Microsoft has unveiled Windows Phone 8, the next generation of its mobile phone software. Windows Phone 8 shares its core code with Windows 8, and will appear this autumn in dual-core phones with high-definition screens and memory cards. That means Windows Phone software and Windows 8 software on computers and tablets will share common DNA, …

Microsoft gave a fairly good imitation of Apple in debuting its Surface tablets. The event, held at an artsy Los Angeles studio space, was shrouded in mystery, and Microsoft executives were properly dressed down for the occasion.  The famously leaky company was mostly able to surprise the assembled press with the multicolored array of Surface tablets and ultrabooks. But Microsoft disregarded …

Microsoft’s new Windows Phone 8 devices will hit stores this fall. And support from carriers like Verizon Wireless will be crucial if the company stands a chance of competing with smartphone giants, Apple and Google. The Windows Phone start screen will soon come with three tile sizes. Screenshot by Microsoft Microsoft today took the wraps off Windows Phone 8, the …

Microsoft has unveiled its new Windows tablets, the Microsoft Surface and Surface Pro — but they’re not the first Microsoft Surface. Remember the touchscreen table? It’s now been renamed the PixelSense. The gadget formerly known as the Surface is a giant flat touchscreen the size of a coffee table that you use to find information wherever it’s placed in places …

Microsoft has just made its next-generation mobile operating system official, and Windows Phone 8 promises to get people talking with its hardware implications, mobile payments, and tighter relations to the Windows platform. Related stories Windows Phone 8 OS opens up to multicore processors, NFC Windows Phone 8 shipping on new phones this fall No upgrade for current Windows Phone devices …

Game bundles are fairly commonplace these days, but most of them focus on PC and/or Mac titles. Here’s something a little different. Indie Gala Mobile lets you set your own price for four Android games, with the proceeds going to your choice of destinations, including two worthwhile charities. Available through Friday, June 22, the bundle includes the following titles: Cardinal …

Verizon Wireless isn’t letting up on the gas in its 4G LTE network deployment. The carrier said that its 4G network will stretch to 46 new markets, with expanded coverage in 22 existing markets by tomorrow. The expansive 4G LTE roll-out is a crucial edge that Verizon maintains over its competitors at a time when consumers are looking for faster …

For all the success that Amazon has enjoyed with its Appstore for Android, that’s largely been the case only in the United States. Yet, that looks to change later this year as developers can now ready their apps for distribution across a number of European markets. Android developers logging into the Amazon Developer Portal will find that they can submit …

Manufacturers LG and Philips have joined forces to create a universal platform for apps on TVs, and the companies say the system has the support of Japanese manufacturers. The newly created Smart TV Alliance is designed to create a single platform making it easier for customers to share apps across multiple TVs and encourage more developers. “Before today, the Smart …

Missed the start of the TV show you rushed home to watch? Not to worry — BBC iPlayer now lets you rewind live TV even if you weren’t watching it before, or watch any show from the past two hours. The new controls are called Live Restart, allowing you to rewind or restart a programme even as it’s on the …

Now playing: Watch this: Divide and conquer your power bills 1:08 You can never have enough power outlets these days, particularly around the home entertainment cabinet. But amongst all of those power cables, we know there’s a lot of wasted power when certain devices aren’t in use, but still keep themselves in standby. Here are three quick ideas to save …

Alliance assemble! LG and Philips are the first manufacturers to join the Smart TV Alliance, a group dedicated to creating a single software platform for Internet-connected tellies. Currently there are loads of different smart TVs out there, many of which are running different platforms and have different (and thoroughly underwhelming) app selections. The brilliantly named Smart TV Alliance aims to …

I’m not sure I like the name, but Belkin has made a surprise entry into the place-shifting arena with @TV Plus, a $149.99 set-top box that allows your to stream video from your home TV to your tablet, smartphone, or laptop over Wi-Fi or a 3G/4G cellular connection. Belkin makes no bones about it: this is a direct competitor to …

Last month, Sprint introduced a new app for its customers that combines two suites of protective controls. Now Sprint Guardian is ready for launch. Mobile security company Lookout powers the Mobile Security apps, while Safely handles the Family Safety app, a bundle of Sprint Family Locator, parental controls, and an app you can use to monitor texting while driving. Both …

Research In Motion has quietly begun its much-anticipated layoffs as part of a cost-cutting restructuring. The struggling BlackBerry maker has been laying off employees in batches of at least 10 for the past several weeks, people familiar with the situation told The Wall Street Journal. Employees in RIM’s quality control, operations, and parts departments have been targeted so far, according …