The Apple TV could be about to get its own app store, according to BGR. Apple will apparently introduce its software development kit for the set-top box at WWDC, allowing third-party companies to make software for it. This would usher in apps for the lounge, as well as hopefully pave the way for Apple’s standalone …

Now playing: Watch this: The excellent Samsung E6500 series 1:37 It’s 2012, and while many thought plasma TV technology would have died out by now, it’s still going strong. Meanwhile, burn-in, the No. 1 perceived problem with the technology, is all gone, right? Well, not exactly. What is burn-in? While it’s possible to test for many aspects of a TV’s …

When I reviewed the Panasonic TC-PVT50 series, I was annoyed to see that the latest software update caused a banner ad to appear for a few seconds whenever I turned on the TV. It disappeared quickly and only popped up upon power-on, but it was still obnoxious. The first thing I wondered was whether I could turn it off. Happily, …

Intel is rumoured to be cooking up a ‘virtual TV’ service that would show you targeted adverts based on facial recognition. The chip-maker is pitching a set-top box powered by Intel technology that would identify the people watching and potentially broadcasting ads specific to those people, Reuters reports. The rumoured box doesn’t identify individuals, but could figure out whether viewers …

In what would likely be a setback for Google, Sprint is reportedly planning to launch its own mobile wallet as early as this summer. The near-field communications (NFC) effort will be called “Touch,” sources tell NFC Times. One of the advantages to the carrier creating its own mobile wallet is the opportunity to build relationships with banks and other service …

Now playing: Watch this: Pantech Swift: The purple messenger 1:18 AT&T is trotting out a new QWERTY messaging phone, the Pantech Swift, going on sale today. With its lavender accents, there’s little question of Pantech’s young audience, and the compact phone is appropriately priced at $69.99 with two-year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate. The QWERTY keyboard, by the …

At Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC 2012) next week in San Francisco we expect to see the latest iteration of iOS unveiled with a laundry list of updates to extend the growing appeal of the iPhone. But, there’s still one key feature that Apple isn’t likely to improve enough to catch up with Android. While iOS 6 will reportedly include …

Gearing up for its highly anticipated Galaxy S III smartphone, Samsung is planning a press event for June 20. Held at the Skylight Studios in New York, the event will undoubtedly center around the device, which the manufacturer is calling the “next big thing.” Related stories Best Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Cases Please, Clear Your Android Phone’s Cookies and …

Screenshot by Jason Cipriani It seems like those of us who grew up digital turn to text messaging and Facebook to announce exciting news, and most often, say happy birthday. But once in a while you get a voice mail from a friend or family member who cared enough to pick up the phone and wish you happy birthday. Birthdays, …

An enterprising 3D designer has crafted a speculative mock-up of Apple’s next iPhone, based on the bevy of leaked parts that have emerged in recent weeks. Check out the video below. Spied by Know Your Mobile, Blackpool Creative’s Bryce Haymond rendered the fantasy phone in design software CAD, writing on his blog, “I thought it would be fun to piece …

Now playing: Watch this: Toshiba Excite 7.7 packs a beautiful screen 1:23 Although the Toshiba Excite 10 has already been out since May, the rest of the family is due to be released in just a few days and they’re all excited (ha! see what I did there?) to hit the market. On June 10, the two remaining members of …

Vodafone has managed to get hold of the elusive pebble blue Samsung Galaxy S3, sending the ocean-hued blower out to customers who pre-ordered the phone today. A Vodafone quote spotted by Eurodroid that originated on the network’s forum relays the jolly news, which I’ve since confirmed with Vodafone. The network says, “Pre-orders for white 16GB and 32GB and blue 16GB S3 …

Apple’s iPhone 5 is likely to include contactless NFC technology, according to mobile network Orange. NFC, or near field communications technology, allows phones to be used to make tap-to-pay transactions by swiping the phone over a compatible reader. It can also be used to share data between two NFC phones or grab data by tapping on an NFC tag. Apple’s …

The HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio is one of the best phones we’ve seen in the past year — and it just got better. Asda is offering the XE ready to update to Ice Cream Sandwich and packing a free pair of sweet Beats headphones for £330. Why are we telling you this? Firstly, because the XE is one …

Now playing: Watch this: Verizon Wireless Jetpack 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot 890L 2:31 I am the type who generally cares more about functionality than style, but once in a while, I am intrigued by the look, too. Case in point: the Jetpack 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot 890L from Verizon Wireless. This is a mobile router that gets attention, looking more …