Like most parents, I’m concerned that my kids get too much “screen time,” what with the TV, computer, Wii, iPod/iPad, and so on. But if that time is spent reading, or at least flipping the pages of a book, I don’t mind it one bit. “Horton Hears a Who” Oceanhouse Media That’s why I continue …

Opera Software and London-based phone maker Inq Mobile have penned a deal to preload Opera Mini 5 browser on several Android smartphones, as well as feature phones. The U.K. will be the first to receive the models this month, followed by Australia and other European, Asian, and North American markets (Canada) in which Inq Mobile operates. Opera Mini is known …

Jonathan Ive, the Apple designer behind the iPod, iPhone, iPad and MacBook Pro, is rumoured to be planning a return to his native land of the UK. The Sunday Times reports (paywall link) that Ive is yearning for the green, green grass of home, but that he’s at “loggerheads” with the Apple board, who don’t want him to leave. The …

I spent time today playing with NextWorth, a Web site that will tell you the trade-in value of many electronic devices. The site covers everything from MP3 players to video games, but I went straight to cell phones, of course, to see how much I could round up for the handsets we have sitting around the CNET offices. All you …

Losing a cell phone is never an ideal scenario, but Sprint is now offering smartphone customers an additional protective measure if their handsets go astray. Starting today, Android and BlackBerry users who sign up for the carrier’s Total Equipment Protection plan not only can get a new phone, but also they’ll be able to wipe their missing handsets. The service, …

In this episode of Pulse TV we discuss the often tumultuous relationship between video games and movies, and take a look at how Avatar was made. Your hosts are CNET Australia editors Lexy Savvides, Ty Pendlebury and Derek Fung.

HTC has confirmed that at least four of its existing Android smartphones will see Gingerbread in the second quarter of this year. A company representative informed SlashGear that update would arrive on the Desire, the Desire HD (the global version of the Evo 4G), the Desire Z (the global version of the T-Mobile G2), and the forthcoming Incredible S. Looking …

China Unicom, one of China’s three largest wireless operators, plans to introduce its own mobile operating system to compete head-to-head with Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android OS in China. The Wall Street Journal reported today that the wireless operator, which is building a third-generation wireless network that competes with China Mobile and China Telecom, is developing a new mobile OS …

The Dell Venue Pro could fall into your lap within days, after all. Dell told us just moments ago that the delayed Windows Phone 7 smart phone will be available on 1 March, and confirmed the official price. The Venue Pro runs the slick Windows Phone 7 operating system. Windows Phone 7 includes Bing search, Xbox Live for games, and …

The Vodafone network has been hit by, struck by, a smooth criminal. An unknown number of UK customers have been left without phone, text or data signal after a break-in at a technical facility during the night. The problem appears to have started at some point during the small hours of Monday morning and is still continuing, according to disgruntled …

9to5Mac The latest in the slew of iPad 2 rumors leading up to Wednesday’s media event pegs Apple to release a white version of the popular touch-screen tablet. 9to5Mac has posted a photo (via iFixYouri) that claims to be the front bezel of a new iPad 2. And guess what? It’s white. Could it be that Apple would release a …

Welcome to the 411, my column answering all your questions about cell phones and cell phone accessories. I receive plenty of questions about these subjects via e-mail, so I figured many of you might have similar queries, too. At times, I might solicit answers from readers if I’m stumped. Send your questions and comments to me at [email protected]. If you …

As of May 31, the Danger service for T-Mobile Sidekicks will be no more. Corinne Schulze/CNET It’s the end of an era. T-Mobile announced this evening that it will discontinue its Danger data service to all Sidekick models starting May 31, 2011. At that time, you will no longer be able to access data stored on Danger’s cloud-based service, including …

The same movie in HD costs $5 more to buy or $1 more to rent. Screenshot by Rick Broida As I sit here at 33,000 feet, watching my kids watch “How to Train Your Dragon” on my iPad, I’m struck by several thoughts. First, in-flight Wi-Fi is just plain awesome. Second, coach seats were made for Netbooks, not laptops. The …

The Motorola Droid Pro is a fair approximation of a BlackBerry handset, minus the inferior keyboard and the fact that it doesn’t come close to matching Research In Motion’s security measures. Add the Divide for Android app, launching today in private beta, and suddenly the handset has a chance of fulfilling business professionals’ Android dreams. The awkwardly named Enterproid start-up …