Jason Cipriani/CNET Wearing an activity tracker such as the Fitbit Flex is an efficient way to increase your activity. Counting steps motivates some users, while the number of calories burned or total distance traveled may be bigger motivation for others. The Fitbit Flex tracks all of these categories, but the indicator lights when you double-tap …

Android dominated the global smart mobile device market in the first quarter, according to a new report from Canalys. That market — which combines smartphones, tablets, and notebooks — hit 308.7 million units in the first quarter, representing year-on-year growth of 37.4 percent, according to Canalys, which released the report on Thursday. By operating system market share, Android was on …

Now playing: Watch this: Huawei Ascend W1: Look familiar? 1:50 Huawei’s first Windows Phone 8 handset, the Huawei W1, lands later this month in select Walmart stores and on Walmart.com. The handset, known globally as the Huawei Ascend W1, by the way, is an entry-level device with a 4-inch LCD display, a 1.2GHZ dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, and a …

Sony may forgo the Xperia branding and adopt the new One Sony branding for this fall’s flagship smartphone, according to various reports. Rumored to be called the Sony i1, the possibly forthcoming Android handset could be among the most powerful devices to date. Related stories: Sony records first net profit in five years Sony selling Xperia Z in United States …

Now playing: Watch this: Key Lime Pie most-wanted features 3:55 With Google’s I/O developer conference just a week away, all eyes are on the company’s plans for the next version of Android. For much of the last year we expected to see Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. After all, leaked slides from a January Qualcomm presentation showed a midyear debut …

The Nokia Asha 501 will go head to head with low-cost Android phones around the world. (Credit: Nokia) While Nokia’s Lumia range gets all the news, its run of Asha phones is actually out selling the Lumia nearly double. The low-end touch phones, which run a variation of the Symbian OS, hit 9.3 million total sales in Q4 last year, …

ITV has given its ITV Player catch-up app a revamp, but only Samsung devices will get access to the new service — at least for now. The refreshed service, which apparently will boost playback performance, is exclusive to Samsung’s range of smart phones and tablets, including the newly-minted Galaxy S4 smart phone. Other gadgets that get early access to the …

Huawei CEO and founder Ren Zhengfei broke his silence and publicly denied that his company is involved with cybersecurity threats directed at the U.S. Ren emerged from behind his veil of secrecy and publicly addressed the media in a rare appearance in New Zealand, where Huawei had just won a contract to build a 4G LTE network, according to Reuters. …

Now playing: Watch this: Nokia’s Lumia 520 is the cheapest Lumia yet in video 1:38 If you’re itching to snap up a budget Nokia Lumia 521, head over to Walmart on May 11 and buy it for $130, its full retail price. Related stories Nokia’s Lumia family tree Wal-Mart, Home Shopping Network sells Lumia 521 Nokia Lumia 520 review: Stellar …

Now playing: Watch this: Mirror your Galaxy S4 on your TV 2:18 Despite the ever-increasing screen size on Samsung’s Galaxy line, some types of media beg for a sit-back, big-screen experience. It could be a YouTube video, or just a little something you shot (and even edited!) on your phone. And, as more developers support this option, mirroring can even …

Like the Samsung Galaxy S4, but worry it isn’t mini enough, active enough or er, zoom-y enough? Then look out for the S4 Mini, S4 Activ and S4 Zoom reported to be landing in Europe in June and July. The rumoured S4 spin-off share the S4 name, but if the S3 Mini is anything to go by, they won’t simply …

The Nexus 7 is the most popular pure Android tablet available. How do I know? Well, data compiled by Handset Detective and a bit of clever maths by analyst Ben Evans are certainly strong indicators. But also, everyone and their mother seems to have one. Especially in the U.S., but other markets have also been strong supporters. I’d even say …

Nokia’s Lumia 928 is again duking it out with Samsung’s Galaxy S3. In a YouTube-posted video of a jam session in a New York subway, Nokia touts the Lumia 928’s ability to record high-quality audio. Pitted against the Galaxy S3, the 928 naturally comes out on top — a given since it’s Nokia’s spot. In the video, the 928 is …

Amazon is reportedly working on two smartphones, including one that would have 3D capability. The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Amazon is developing a device that features a 3D screen that can be used without special glasses. Citing “people familiar with the company’s plans,” the Journal wrote that the phone would use retina-tracking technology that would make the images …

Nvidia is banking on new computing devices to replace “cheap” PCs and Android to drive that disruption, according to comments from the chipmaker’s chief executive on Thursday. “A great tablet is clearly better than a cheap PC,” said Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang during the company’s fiscal first quarter conference call. “New computing devices are becoming increasingly like your personal computer, …