The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, which opens in the UK on Thursday, is shot in 3D at 48 frames per second — twice the rate of normal movies. You can see it in 2D, 3D and in certain cinemas at the full 3D High Frame Rate (HFR). But what difference does it make? What does …

Don’t be fooled by the jargon, spin and outright lies. Make sure you get the best TV at the best price. (Credit: Geoffrey Morrison/CNET) Using the time-honoured tactics of obfuscation, misdirection and a little bit of fear, the people who try to sell you TVs can hit you with some heavy-duty lies. Now, this isn’t to say that all TV …

Geoffrey Morrison/CNET If you’ve bought a TV in the last few years, it’s likely that TV has a “Game mode.” As you’ve discovered (or will discover, now that you’re looking for it), this is not some supersecret hiding place for Angry Birds. That’s a different section. If you’re a gamer, Game mode might improve your gaming experience, but it comes …

The pay-TV provider has revealed details of its new movie channel package, which will be replacing the Movie Network. (Credit: Foxtel) From 1 January 2013, Foxtel will move to a simplified package of movie channels with an increased emphasis on video-on-demand content. The new service, called Foxtel Movies & Premium Drama, comes in the wake of Foxtel’s acquisition of Showtime …

Don’t be fooled by the jargon, spin and outright lies. Make sure you get the best TV at the best price. (Credit: Geoffrey Morrison/CNET) Using the time-honoured tactics of obfuscation, misdirection and a little bit of fear, the people who try to sell you TVs can hit you with some heavy-duty lies. Now, this isn’t to say that all TV …

Optus is planning a major revamp of its retail stores for early next year, and has discontinued business arrangements with major players in its reseller channels in an effort to take control of and improve its brand image. (Credit: Optus) According to the Australian Financial Review, Allphones is the latest major Optus partner to be trimmed from the telco’s reseller …

Barnes & Noble is dropping the price of its Nook Simple Touch e-reader by about $20 starting tomorrow, with a new price tag of $79, the company said today. Not a full-blown tablet, the Simple Touch relies on a touch screen for flipping e-ink pages, navigating menus, and so on. CNET Reviews gave it four out of five stars and …

Shoppers can now get their hands on a Kindle Fire tablet in a new location — GameStop stores. GameStop, the large video game retailer, now offers the Kindle Fire family of tablets, including the 7-inch and 8.9-inch versions of the HD device and the 7-inch version of the regular Kindle Fire. The devices will sell for the same price as …

As Google’s Android operating system gains momentum in the smartphone market, some long-time Apple iPhone fans are considering a switch to Android. But should these former iPhone fans worry that Android alternatives won’t be as secure? With cyberattacks and malicious apps targeting Android smartphones increasing in frequency, some former Apple devotees are nervous about making the switch. In this edition …

No need to hit the panic button on Research In Motion yet; its BlackBerry 10 phones aren’t facing any major delays, CNET has learned. Related stories Best Password Manager to Use for 2022 Your Phone Screen Is Gross. Here’s How to Clean It Without Causing Damage Spending All Night With the First iPhone Kanye West’s Donda 2 Skips Spotify, 5G …

Has it really been 10 years since Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto: Vice City made its PlayStation 2 debut? And has it really been 26 years since the big hair, pastel suits, and electronic-infused pop celebrated in that game were all the rage? Heaven help me, I’m old. Just as Rockstar brought Grand Theft Auto 3 to smartphones and tablets to …

Google’s latest Nexus phone may be as hard to obtain as the Holy Grailat present, but that hasn’t stopped us from getting our hands on one and testing it to destruction. As a result, we’re perfectly positioned to provide you with a quarter-century of indispensable Google Nexus 4 tips. Below you’ll find 25 handy hints, which will enable you to …

If you’re looking for an Android device with a touch of style and at a price that likely won’t bust your budget, the $49.99 HTC One VX may do the trick. This midrange handset has just joined AT&T’s roster, apparently on sale today. I first saw the HTC One VX at a special AT&T press event back in October. At …

There’s a company operating in China that is called the next Apple by supporters, and is run by a founder that has achieved Steve Jobs-like status among his firm’s followers. Xiaomi Technology may be largely unknown to the outside world, but in China it’s a household name, Reuters reports in a detailed profile of the company and its founder. As …

Unbreakable blower! The Samsung Galaxy S4 will have an indestructible screen when it arrives in the new year, according to new reports. The follow-up to the smash hit Samsung Galaxy S3 and Samsung Galaxy S2 is expected in Spring, and could sport a screen made of plastic substrate that will fight off cracks and scratches even if dropped. Reuters reports …