Our colleagues at CNET Asia just took the new Sony Xperia ZL for a complete test-drive and like how this elegant handset handles. While not as luxurious as Sony’s current flagship the Xperia Z, the Xperia ZL offers plenty of smartphone goodies including a nimble processor, Android Jelly Bean, and even an IR blaster to …

Google today added offline language support to the Google Translate app for Android. Related stories: Interactive Google Play app dishes up actor details Google Translate screenshots Google Translate for Android adds OCR support Available for devices running Android 2.3 Gingerbread and up, the new feature provides translation in 50 languages, even where a data connection is not present. To enable …

T-Mobile’s salty, spirited launch of its better-late-than-never LTE network and new contract-free ethos may have felt like a sudden surge come from nowhere, but in fact, it was a well-calculated and slowly calibrated, years-long effort to save an ailing network. Truth is, the fiery, passionate T-Mobile we saw during its “Uncarrier” event this week wouldn’t have been possible without some …

As a condition for approving Softbank’s $20 billion acquisition of Sprint Nextel, the U.S. government is seeking oversight of network equipment purchases to prevent gear from Chinese suppliers Huawei Technologies and ZTE from becoming part of the U.S. infrastructure, according to the Wall Street Journal. The two companies have already attracted the criticism of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee, which …

As part of a flurry of changes today, Google updated its Gmail app for iOS. The core structure and design of the app remain largely the same, but Google added several new useful features that make browsing and organizing your messages easier. Here are the highlights. You now can jump between messages by swiping horizontally across your iPhone or iPad …

You’re nicked, son. A Somerset policeman has shopped his teenage son for fraud in protest against Apple, after the young’un ran up a shock £3,700 bill playing games on his iPad. The Daily Mail reports that PC Doug Crossan’s 13-year-old son made in-app purchases across a variety of games including Plants vs Zombies and NOVA 3, believing them to be …

Three won’t launch 4G until after everyone else. The UK’s smallest network is “fairly relaxed” about 4G LTE, and won’t launch until later in the year — behind the other major networks. Three is in a unique position with regards to 4G. Not only has it bought portions of the spectrum in the auction, but it’s also buying some of …

The HTC One is finally starting to appear on sale in the UK, following delays to the 4.7-inch smart phone. Phones 4U has put the quad-core HTC One in its ‘just arrived’ category and has the silver option available to buy now, though if you want the phone in black, you’ll still be making a pre-order. Deals start at £36 …

Rumours suggest that Samsung is plotting to produce a new smart phone called the Galaxy S4 Mini (check out the leaked snap below). But will this mobile be a cracking device in its own right? Or a lazy cash-in like last year’s Galaxy S3 Mini? Everyone went nuts for the Galaxy S3 when it was released, and rightly so, because it …

After building a House of Cards, Netflix is planning to make sense. The streaming service has announced Sense8, a new sci-fi series from the creators of The Matrix and Babylon 5. The new series, to be financed by Netflix and exclusively screened online, is the brainchild of Andy and Lana Wachowski and J. Michael Straczynski. There’ll be 10 episodes and it’ll be …

Yo Joe! GI Joe: Retaliation hits cinemas today in 3D — but can an action movie starring The Rock and Bruce Willis as 1980s toys stretch to two dimensions, let alone three? The film is presented in 3D, and, frankly, I was dead excited about it. Sure, it’s all very well banging on about valid storytelling reasons for 3D and …

Robert Downey Jr is back in the armour in Iron Man 3 — and this time you can get a turn as ol’ shell-head too. An interactive game accompanies the release of Marvel’s latest film, and I checked out a preview as new challenges and villains test Tony Stark’s metal. The last time we saw the ferrous philanthropist, he was …

The new Wolverine movie has been given a six-second airing, in what could be the briefest teaser trailer ever witnessed. The lightning-pace clip, embedded below, shows the adamantium-clawed X-bloke slashing, grimacing and shouting his way through several seconds of action. Watch #TheWolverine exclusive #Vine Teaser RIGHT NOW! vine.co/v/bDExaiMjJ1F — The Wolverine (@WolverineMovie) March 25, 2013 The trailer was posted to …

Samsung’s iPad mini-rivalling Galaxy Note 8 tablet has been given a UK release date and pricing — although it’s not great news for cash-strapped tech fans. Spied by unwired view, Carphone Warehouse has posted a pre-registration page for the 8-inch tablet, offering an “expected” release date of April 2013. That’s not long to wait, but while the house of Mobley …

Now playing: Watch this: T-Mobile gets iPhone, kills the contract 2:54 T-Mobile USA is taking a bold step forward with a new contractless plan for smartphone subscribers. The company posted the new changes to its plans, which made their first appearance last January at CES, on its Web site on Sunday. The new contractless plans may attract customers looking for …