Samsung launches new Black Edition Galaxy S4 and S4 Mini

Samsung is aiming to be more stylish with the latest twist on its Galaxy S4 phones. The new Black Edition of the S4 and its S4 Mini counterpart come with a faux-leather textured back cover and bezel. Riffing on the same theme, the power adapter, data cable, and headphones are black as is the product …

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Add a battery bar on top of your Android screen with Energy Bar

Related stories: Five settings that increase battery life on Android 4.4 KitKat Five ways I survived the switch from iPhone to Android Enable battery percentage indicator on Android 4.4 KitKat Battery status icons on Android devices aren’t all that exciting and usually do just one thing — as the battery drains, the battery meter goes down, possibly changing colors along …

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HTC tipped to be building Nexus tablet later this year

HTC could be making a Nexus tablet, according to rumours concerning the Taiwanese phone-maker’s business dealings. News site Focus Taiwan cites Taiwanese paper Commercial Times as saying that HTC bagged a deal to produce a “high end” Google Nexus tablet that will start shipping between July and September — though the site claims that the paper didn’t cite any sources in …

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HTC planning first wearable device with HTC One sequel

HTC is hoping a smart watch will erase memories of the HTC One‘s disappointing performance. The company is planning its first wearable device to take on the Samsung Galaxy Gear watch, arriving this year alongside the HTC One’s smart phone sequel. “We feel positive and optimistic about 2014 when compared to 2013,” Chang Chialin, chief financial officer and head of …

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HTC in hunt for ‘high end’ Nexus tablet, report says

HTC will once again partner with Google to produce a Nexus device, or so suggests a new Taiwanese report. Related stories: HTC makes no promises for new tablets HTC confirms plans to sell wearable device this year HTC One successor may sport two rear cameras According to unnamed sources close to the Commercial Times, HTC has won the rights to …

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A Bluetooth pacifier and more from the best British startups

The 5-Tiles virtual keyboard. Andrew Hoyle / CBS Interactive LONDON — Best of British! A smart pacifier, a keyboard with only five buttons, and an app that prepares for meetings so you don’t have to are among the innovative ideas UK companies have up their sleeves. Smart pacifier among best of British startups (pictures) +12 more See all photos I …

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‘New Kind of Science’ falls short of its iPad e

An update on Wednesday night brought Retina display support to the iPad e-book app of “A New Kind of Science,” Stephen Wolfram’s mammoth tome on mathematics, computing, cellular automata, and the nature of the universe. Ordinarily, you’d think that would be a good thing. But for this particular project, it reveals how much more needs to be done to really …

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Mobile puzzle game Threes is a design marvel worth your time

The image of the emblematic smartphone game has not been held in high regard of late. Certainly not with titles like Flappy Bird seemingly taking over the world, earning $50,000 a day off our meaningless compulsions and further cementing the well of condescension “hardcore” gamers have for the mobile platform and its capacity. That’s where Threes comes in. Released Wednesday …

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T

AT&T was the top ranked full service wireless carrier, according to J.D. Power’s latest survey. MetroPCS was the top-ranked carrier for customer service among wireless providers concentrated on the no-contract market. The biggest customer satisfaction improvement, however, went to T-Mobile. Related stories When Does My Phone Unlock? And How Can I Get My Carrier to Do It? Best T-Mobile Deals …

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Samsung Galaxy NotePro 12

You can now get your hands on the Samsung Galaxy NotePro, packing no less than twelve inches and eight cores. The NotePro, recently unveiled alongside the Galaxy TabPro, has been available to pre-order for the past week, with the first 300 people getting a free gamepad worth £90. The new tablet costs £649. If you place your order before 4pm today you …

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LG G Pro 2 could sound off with better speakers

The LG G Pro 2 may add beefier speakers to its list of enhancements. The successor to the LG G Pro will be equipped with a high-powered 1-watt speaker system, Korean news site ETNews said on Thursday. The bass will also be bassier courtesy of thicker speakers, while the sound itself promises to be clearer as well as more powerful. …

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Verizon approves Android KitKat for HTC One

HTC One owners on Verizon, today is your lucky day. HTC product manager Mo Versi has confirmed via Twitter that a big update to Android KitKat is heading your way starting today. This over-the-air upgrade will certainly pack a wallop. The software roll-out is expected to boost HTC’s current flagship to Android version 4.4 plus the company’s freshest iteration of …

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Verizon iPhone users get a crack at Isis Mobile Wallet

iPhone wireless subscribers on Verizon Wireless won’t be left out of using the Isis Mobile Wallet any longer. On Thursday, Verizon, which is one of three major wireless operators funding the Isis Mobile Wallet, announced that iPhone users can now use the Incipio Cashwrap case and an iOS app available from the Apple App Store to use the mobile wallet. …

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HTC working on wearable tech for 2014

It’s been said before, but it looks like 2014 is shaping up as the year of the wearable device. Could the HTC One Watch be on this wrist by year’s end? (Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET) Now HTC has told Bloomberg that it will be working on wearable tech — although it was curiously reluctant to mention any specifics. In the interview, …

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