There’s finally some competition in the early phone upgrade program, and that’s good news for you. T-Mobile might have kicked off the trend to let consumers swap out their phones more frequently with “Jump,” but it certainly wasn’t the last. With Sprint introducing “One Up” last week, there’s finally a legitimate alternative out there. Related …

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is set to update to the cutting-edge Android 4.3 Jelly Bean in October, with the Galaxy S3 review, Galaxy Note 2 and HTC One Google Edition not far behind. SamMobile reports the Android 4.3 update is in testing for the S4, S3 and Note 2. The S4 is reported to receive the update at some point …

Best Buy announced Thursday that Samsung’s Galaxy Gear smartwatch will be up for preorder on Friday. It will be one of the only retailers to carry all six colors of the device. Samsung announced the Galaxy Gear earlier this month at the IFA show in Berlin. The device has hit some countries around the world already and will be available …

An Apple TV “touch-to-set-up” option using Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) shows that Apple has well and truly moved beyond ever adding near-field communication (NFC) to the iPhone. Tap your iPhone to the Apple TV? Like NFC without the actual NFC. (Credit: Apple) Apple has added a new set-up feature to Apple TV that makes the experience look an awful lot …

Apple TV added new channels to its lineup Thursday, with Major League Soccer and Disney Junior joining the ranks in an over-the-air update. With MLS, Apple TV gains another subscription sports league, in addition to MLB, NBA, and NHL. Apple TV already recruited a few other Disney Channel apps earlier this year. Apple released a software update for its Apple …

Now playing: Watch this: Bend it like Corning Willow Glass 1:32 Had Dipak Chowdhury known just how accident-prone I really am, he never would have handed over the 0.1-millimeter sheet of glass for me to bend between my fingers. Luckily for me, the vice president and director of Corning’s Willow Glass division is a trusting soul and gave CNET the …

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos isn’t comfortable being described as the next Steve Jobs. “That is a very complimentary thing to say,” he responds humbly, “but it’s not how I think about it — that way. I think we have our own approaches and vision. Nobody would ever be the next Steve Jobs. He was a unique guy, and, you know …

The man behind the consortium offering to buy out BlackBerry and take it private offered some insight into the deal on Wednesday. Fairfax Financial Holdings CEO Prem Watsa told Reuters that he believes the consortium will be able to come up with the money needed to pay for the $4.7 billion bid. “We wouldn’t put our name to such a …

Can Windows Phone 8 tear an Android devotee from the grips of Google? (Credit: CBSi) Windows Phone always seemed like that unattainable high-school crush you would trade glances with across the classroom. There would be a few awkward moments as you both determine your affections for one another, with enough intrigue to keep things fresh. Unlike those youthful dalliances, however, …

Jason Cipriani/CNET Hiding preloaded apps on an iOS device has always consisted of creating a “junk” folder, placing all unused apps in it, and hiding it on the last home screen. Up until iOS 7, placing apps such as Newsstand in a folder wasn’t even possible. For the time being, there’s a bug in iOS 7 that allows you to …

Samsung’s two newest gadgets have gone on sale in the UK, but the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear smart watch will still cost you a pretty penny to acquire. Samsung says its 5.7-inch gigantophone and wrist-based sidekick are out today, to buy ‘from selected retailers’ and Samsung’s flagship shop in London’s Westfield Stratford City. The new kit is cutting-edge …

Verizon Wireless on Wednesday introduced a 4G LTE-powered router for the home, which could potentially replace your ground phone and Internet connection — as long as you’re not a heavy user and an existing wireless customer. The router is made by Novatel Wireless. Verizon Wireless The company’s Verizon 4G LTE Broadband Router with Voice is nothing if not straightforward, and …

Adobe Systems, in an apparent effort to tap into the computer industry’s move to mobile devices, is involved with a tablet software project called Ginger to help people create compelling presentations and sales pitches. “A great story, well told, can change the world, but showing a great story is hard. You have to be a writer, an artist, an animator, …

Just when it seemed like things couldn’t get more grim for BlackBerry, rival Samsung has made another grab for the company’s core group of business users. The Korean electronics giant on Wednesday unveiled its latest push in the mobile enterprise market — the “Samsung Solutions Exchange,” a sort of app store for business programs. The company isn’t simply rounding up …

Samsung could soon introduce a third premium smartphone experience to complement the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note family, says an industry source (translate). According to ETNews, the so-called Galaxy F could feature cutting-edge hardware specifications and materials that trump those in its current portfolio. Key among the rumored details are an octa-core processor, a 16-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization, …