VideoLAN, a nonprofit that builds open-source media player software, says it’s blocking Huawei phones from downloading its free VLC for Android app from the Google Play Store. The decision came in response to the Chinese phone maker’s decision to cut off all background apps except its own, which stops VLC’s audio playback, VideoLAN said in …

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 uses Android and a little Samsung software magic to take on Apple and Microsoft.  Like Microsoft’s Surface line and Apple’s iPad Pro, this premium Android tablet is for more than entertainment. Borrowing capabilities from the DeX dock and pad Samsung makes for its Galaxy phones, the Tab S4 has DeX features that changes the tablet’s Android interface into a desktop-style experience.  Attach the $150 …

You might have seen the news that Outlook.com has a new dark mode and thought, “That’s all well and good, but I use Gmail like everyone else. Where’s my webmail dark mode?” I have good news and bad news for you. The good news? Gmail has not one but two dark mode options. The bad news? Gmail’s dark modes are …

Once again, T-Mobile took the pole position when it comes to smartphone wireless customers.  The carrier added a total of 1.6 million net new customers in the second quarter, a number that includes 686,000 so-called postpaid phone customers. The company said it has led the industry for 18 straight quarters in that key metric.  T-Mobile’s continued dominance comes amid the …

MoviePass is going through a rough patch right now after raising prices and limiting new movies in an attempt to stay in business. Chagrined subscribers who were used to all-you-can-watch plans aren’t thrilled. If they thought problem-solving specialist Elon Musk might be able to help, then they’re out of luck. Buzzfeed writer Samir Mezrahi tweeted to Musk on Tuesday asking, …

Adding fuel to the rumors about dual-SIM support in upcoming iPhones, now support has been spotted in the code of beta 5 of iOS 12. That doesn’t necessarily mean it will actually appear in an imminent iPhone, but it does indicate that Apple’s actively working on a solution to make the lives of world travelers easier. References to a second …

Huawei overtook Apple in the second quarter of 2018 to become the world’s second largest phone vendor, according to new market research. The embattled Chinese phone maker shipped 54 million handsets in the quarter, an increase of 41 percent over last year, researcher Canalys reported Tuesday. Huawei’s success was due in part to strong demand for its flagship P20 handset …

Update, Aug. 9: The Galaxy Note 9 is now official, and we’ve gone hands-on. Original story follows. Samsung’s next big phone — literally huge, that is — is most likely the Galaxy Note 9. It’s expected to be announced on Aug. 9 at an event in New York. But there’s no need to wait until then to claim one: You can reserve …

Update, Aug. 9: The Galaxy Note 9 is now official, and we’ve gone hands-on. Original story follows. In its earnings call Tuesday, KyeongTae Lee, Samsung’s mobile business head stated “We aim to expand the sales of flagship models via an earlier-than-usual release of a new Galaxy Note, which offers exceptional performance for a reasonable price.”  He didn’t mention the Galaxy Note 9 …

It appears that for bargain hunters seeking wireless deals, the golden days are over.  During the last few weeks, Verizon introduced a higher tier plan for the especially data-hungry user, while Sprint and AT&T both relaunched their data offerings with new, pricier options. Some offer new features like video or hot spot capabilities, but they ultimately still mean you’re paying …