AT&T is getting closer to its quest of covering 250 million people with 4G LTE by the end of 2013. On Monday, the carrier announced five more markets that will receive the faster 4G speeds. Related stories AT&T outshines Verizon in 4G LTE speed tests HTC’s One is a gorgeous, winning Android phone The new …

Aside from monopolistic cable providers that force their customers to buy expensive bundles of TV channels they might never watch, wireless operators may be the only other businesses I know of that often force their customers to buy expensive services they don’t really want. In this edition of Ask Maggie, I answer two questions from readers who highlight this point. …

Samsung has acquired the team behind MOVL, a company that makes entertainment applications for smart TVs, GigaOm reported Monday. The 2-year-old Atlanta-based company provides apps for TVs by connecting mobile devices with the TVs, often referred to as the “second screen” experience. These include gaming apps Poker Fun and WeDraw, fitness app SmartFitTV, and social video app WeTeli. Its investors …

“Real life is hard on gadgets,” and so is the team at Always On. To evaluate the durability of devices, Molly Wood and her team use a series of torture tests that simulate real-life situations with the intention of damaging and destroying. The torture tests include extreme temperatures, the unavoidable dances with gravity in the form of dropping and spilling, …

Last week, Apple announced that its App Store is approaching 50 billion app downloads. In celebration of the milestone, Apple is giving away a $10,000 App Store gift card to the lucky person who initiates the 50 billionth download. As part of the celebration, Apple listed the top 25 apps — both free and paid — for iPhone and iPad. …

If you’re after an unlocked quad-core Galaxy S4, then this is the cheapest deal we’ve seen so far. (Credit: Samsung) The RRP on Samsung’s Galaxy S4 is AU$899 if you buy one from the Samsung Store or AU$816 if you walk into a Telstra store. Kogan is currently selling the S4 for AU$699, but with a big caveat: it’s the …

Over the weekend, leaked images of a new BlackBerry device came to light. Reportedly called theBlackBerry R10, this possible gadget will be a low-end version of the pricey BlackBerry Q10. Judging from the photos that first bubbled up from Chinese Web site DGtle, then nabbed by N4BB, BBin, and Mobile Syrup, this R10 seems to sport a classic physical keyboard …

Clearwire told shareholders in a letter sent on Monday that its best path lies in an acquisition by Sprint Nextel. The letter laid out in extensive detail why Sprint’s offer of $2.97 a share provides the best value for shareholders. Nowhere in the letter does it reference Dish Network’s rival bid for Clearwire, which is actually higher at $3.30 a …

Now playing: Watch this: Samsung’s Galaxy S4 powerhouse 3:28 AT&T announced on Twitter today that it will start offering the 32GB version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 on May 10 for $249.99 after users sign a two-year contract. Related stories Best Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Cases TV in the Bathroom: Technically Doable but a Very Bad Idea Samsung TV …

Many parents apparently still aren’t getting the message about the dangers of distracted driving. Among 618 parents surveyed for a study out today from the American Academy of Pediatrics, almost 90 percent of them admitted to chatting on the phone, texting, fiddling with the GPS, or doing other things while driving with their children in the car. The parents who …

Now playing: Watch this: Get rid of bloatware on the Samsung Galaxy S4 1:37 Just a small collection of the bloatware that ships with the Samsung Galaxy S4 (AT&T). Screenshot by Sharon Vaknin/CNET Like pre-installed programs on a Windows PC, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is full of “bloatware,” unnecessary apps and services from Samsung or your carrier that offer no …

CNET Tablets and touch-screen notebooks will give a helping hand to the PC industry in the coming years, according to NPD DisplaySearch. Shipments of mobile PCs are forecast to reach 762.7 million globally by 2017, up from 367.6 million last year, according to an NPD report released Monday. Most of that growth will come about as tablets replace traditional notebooks …

I had two transformative yet very minor optical experiences last week, both kicking off in the space of 2 hours: I got contact lenses, and I began experimenting with Google Glass. The two are interlinked, because I couldn’t use Google’s bleeding-edge wearable tech with my comfy Ray-Ban eyeglasses. If I was going to use Glass, I’d need contacts. Sarah Tew/CNET …

Now playing: Watch this: Hands-on with Google Glass 2:31 You’ve scanned the headlines, gawked at the photos, and guffawed at the “Saturday Night Live” video (also embedded at the end). But you still have questions about Google Glass, the Big G’s futuristic new techie facewear. This FAQ tackles some of your most-often-asked questions about what Google Glass is and isn’t, …

When Google said it would acquire Motorola Mobility for $12.4 billion, it was applauded as a bold move to shore up its patent position. A year and a half and several legal setbacks later, many are wondering when — and if — Google will ever see a payoff. Related stories Best Home Security Cameras of 2022 Here’s How to Turn …