A while back, when I first heard about broadcasters’ plans to build their own network to deliver local and live TV to smartphones, I have to admit I chuckled a little. The Dyle application running on a mobile device. Dyle The idea that broadcasters, with little to no experience in the wireless world, could accomplish …

Back at the January Consumer Electronics Show, Roku showed off a prototype of its Streaming Stick — a version of its streaming box miniaturized to the size of a USB drive, and designed to work with any TV equipped with an MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) port. We thought it was cool enough to bestow it with a nomination as one …

Many iPod Touch owners harbor a secret dream of using their devices as iPhones, bypassing long-term contracts and pricey service agreements in favor of cheap/free calls via Vonage, Skype, and other voice-over-IP apps. Just one problem: Wi-Fi ain’t everywhere. Without it, iPods can’t make calls, stream media, play online games, or do any of that other good stuff. One possible …

Optus has today launched 4G services for business customers in Sydney and Perth, with Melbourne to follow shortly. Optus 4G coverage maps for Perth (left) and Sydney (right). (Credit: Optus/CBSi) The new Optus network in Sydney boasts a coverage radius of approximately 10km around the CBD. In Perth, coverage extends 20km west to east, and 15km north to south. Business …

Blending smartphone, tablet and laptop, the Padfone is finding its way to Australia through Harvey Norman. The hardware just seems a bit … old now, but the concept is still novel. (Credit: Asus) Although the long wait process and subsequent hardware and software has quelled interest in the device, there’s no doubt that there are those that want to “transform” …

How well do you know your carrier options? Related stories Cell phone finder Cell phone buying guide Bluetooth headset buying guide Maybe very well, if you happen to follow the ins and outs of changing plans and perks. However, you may not be aware that Cricket has a roaming agreement with Sprint, or that Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile now …

Samsung’s Music Hub app launched on the Samsung Galaxy S3 in Europe back in May, but it’s taken until now for the subscription music service to hit our shores. CNET got an eyeful (and an earful) of the Music Hub app on several GS3 devices ahead of launch. Since the software was preproduction, there may be some slight differences between …

Looking to slash your smartphone bill? Prepaid services that resell service from the nationwide carriers at big discounts may be your answer. There are now several prepaid services available that resell nationwide carriers’ 3G wireless services. The benefits to these plans are huge. Customers can still get access to hot new smartphones and reliable networks with nationwide coverage at a …

Remember Republic Wireless? The wireless service, which made headlines for its cut-rate $19 unlimited voice, text message, and data plan that relied more on Wi-Fi networks than cellular ones, opened and quickly closed its beta last year. Now the company is ready to reopen its beta to a new wave of customers, and has added the Motorola Defy XT to …

Consider the Pantech Marauder a smartphone with training wheels. Verizon’s new 4G LTE Android handset has a dual-mode interface that includes a simpler starter mode than the standard Android interface. In addition to the virtual keyboard is a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Other specs include a 5-megapixel camera, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and 1GB RAM. The microSD card slot supports 32GB …

Amtrak is launching its new eTicket program, which will let passengers board trains nationwide without a paper ticket, from the end of this month. Instead of standing in line at the ticket window, frantically checking the schedule board as a train arrives — and then sails past — travelers with an eTicket can go straight to the gate, and then …

The latest iPhone rumours have attempted to pin-point Apple’s desired announcement date for the company’s next smartphone, with 12 September circled in the calendar. (Credit: Apple) According to tech blog iMore, anonymous sources with a good track record have identified the date of the announcement and believe the new phone will be in stores (in the US, at least) on …

Samsung has slammed Apple’s legal attack on the Galaxy line of phone and tablets, saying it “defies common sense”. A top Samsung chap reckons Apple has no right to lay claim to the rectangle as a design. Samsung’s chief product officer Kevin Packingham, speaking to Wired, ridiculed Apple’s claims that Samsung “slavishly copied” the design of the iPad and iPhone. Samsung …

Sony has not completely ruled out an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update for its 2011 Xperia line, despite what the company may have told you just days ago. A post on the company’s blog today advises that it is “actively investigating” software updates for all of its devices and that 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich deployments still are on track. Rumors …

Sony’s not giving up on tablets, with leaked presentation slides revealing the Sony Xperia tablet, a 9.4-inch effort that looks set to sport a splash-proof aluminium frame and a slimmer build than its predecessor, the Sony Tablet S. mobiFlip published the leaked presentation, which goes into serious detail on what we can expect from the ambitious tablet. A folding keyboard …