BOSTON — Comcast is taking aim at wireless operators with new services introduced here at the NCTA’s Cable Show that will undercut mobile carrier fees for text messaging and offer an alternative to mobile data services. Over the past two days Comcast has made two new product announcements that could threaten revenue for wireless companies. …
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PARIS — Overhauling Nokia hasn’t just been a matter of slapping a new operating system on older mobile phone hardware. In reality, the company had to rebuild its entire supply chain — the vast network of business partners that build everything that makes up a phone. And a big part of the change: accepting more risk as the company tries …
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All eyes will be on Google, as it takes a sudden plunge into the hardware business, courtesy of Motorola. The $12.5 billion deal, which closed today, netted Google a healthy stockpile of patents for legal defense and offense, along with a historic technology brand and a multibillion-dollar handset and TV set-top box business. It’s pretty obvious what Google will do …
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Remember the cute, square Jetpack mobile router Verizon showed off at CES 2012? Well, Verizon announced today that its new Jetpack 890L will be available on May 24. This is the second router in the Jetpack line that the company introduced at the show, the first was the Jetpack 4620L that we reviewed just a few days ago. Similar to …
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Excited about extra-fast web browsing on your brand-new Samsung Galaxy S3? We certainly were — but Samsung has backtracked today, admitting that the S3 won’t support DC-HSPA after all. Samsung contacted CNET to sheepishly inform us that the S3 won’t in fact support 42Mbps DC-HSPA here in the UK, despite telling us that it would just yesterday. Samsung has apologised …
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Ice Cream Sandwich isn’t coming to the Sony Xperia S as soon as we’d hoped. After hinting that we could be seeing the latest version of Android on the Xperia S as soon as this month, Sony has admitted it spoke too soon. This isn’t a delay as such, but a return to the original timescale for the Ice Cream …
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In a thinly veiled attempt to get users excited about new mobile hotspot add-ons for smartphones and tablets, Sprint announced that it is swapping its 5GB for $29.99 per month data plan for two more costly options. As of May 18, Sprint launched two hotspot add-ons, the first costs $19.99 per month for 2GB of combined 3G/4G on-network data and …
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Sony is taking on Spotify by releasing its first Music Unlimited app for iPhone this week. The Music Unlimited app will launch by the end of the week after debuting more than 12 months ago on Sony devices. At CES 2012, Sony initially announced the app would be released in summer. The Music Unlimited app is only iPhone and iPod …
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The man who invented the wireless TV remote control, Eugene Polley, passed away over the weekend. (Credit: LG) Forget HD, forget 3D, forget 4K and 8K, forget HDMI; it’s arguable that the wireless remote control is the single most important feature innovation in the history of television. It freed us from the tyranny of laziness that trapped many of us …
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Electronics retailer Value Electronics held its first 2012 flat-panel TV picture quality shootouts last weekend. The event was won by the Panasonic TC-P65VT50. Panasonic’s best plasma TV for 2012 beat out five other contenders. In descending order of average score (see the scorecard below), they were the Samsung PN64E8000 plasma, the Sharp Elite PRO-60X5FD LCD, the Samsung UNES8000 LCD, the …
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LG plans to preview its 55-inch OLED TV tomorrow at an event in Monaco, as part of the Grand Prix auto race. Our colleagues at CNET Asia will be attending the event, so look forward to some hands-on action with the new flat-screen shortly. Local pricing has still not been announced, and there is plenty of speculation on when the …
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Diet apps are a dime a dozen. And with good reason: your smartphone is the ideal mobile companion for counting calories, managing exercise, and tracking overall health. The latest entry into this crowded field: Super Diet Genius. What separates this $3.99 app from the likes of Lose It, Calorie Tracker, and MyFitnessPal? It’s all in the “super.” Specifically, Super Diet …
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NEW YORK — Social networking has finally come to the aid of drivers ceaselessly circling in hopes of finding a parking spot on Union Street or North Beach in San Francisco. Here at TechCrunch Disrupt, KurbKarma launched an iPhone app that could take the pain out of parking. A user ready to vacate a parking spot publishes his or her …
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As Google prepares to close its acquisition of Motorola Mobility, the company could be considering laying off some Motorola employees, a new report suggests. According to TechCrunch and its unnamed sources, Google will launch a “listening tour” around Motorola to see what its employees do at the company. Based on that information, Google could decide to lay off some Motorola …
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The new Samsung Galaxy S3 will boast some of the fastest Internet speeds in the UK, Samsung has confirmed. The hotly anticipated Android powerhouse will connect to the Web via DC-HSPA, the next step up from current 3G speeds. The S3 will let you surf the Net and stream music and video while you’re out and about at up to …
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