SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son Stephen Shankland/CNET Fast mobile connection speeds, coupled with a strong third wireless carrier, could help improve US competition, not hurt it, SoftBank’s CEO plans to argue in Washington this week. SoftBank CEO and Sprint chairman Masayoshi Son will speak to policymakers on Tuesday and argue that if wireless carriers grow in …

Samsung made the A7 processor. Who’s making the A8? Apple One thing is certain about Apple’s next-gen processor. Both Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Samsung claim they’re making it. On Monday, Samsung laid claim to its participation, according to a report from ZDNet Korea. Related story Apple-Samsung silicon union still strong, chip expert says Samsung has signed a “foundry” agreement …

AUSTIN, Texas–Hallelujah! Southwest Airlines is starting to roll out mobile boarding passes, and for anyone who flies as much as I have over the last few years, this is very welcome news. I’ve been here at South by Southwest for the past week, and this afternoon, checking in for my flight home on Tuesday, I was surprised — and very, …

Apple’s iPhone 5S runs iOS 7, an overhauled version of the company’s mobile operating system. Sarah Tew/CNET Apple on Monday released an update to its iOS 7 mobile operating system — iOS 7.1 — that adds new features such as CarPlay and fixes bugs. With iOS 7.1, Apple also tweaked its Siri voice assistant, iTunes Radio, and its Touch ID …

Lynn La/CNET Sprint’s Framily friends and family plan is off to a good start. So says Chief Financial Officer Joe Euteneuer, who spoke at a Deutsche Bank investor conference on Monday. At a time when the wireless carriers are either slashing prices or pushing for family members to sign up together to save money, Framily is Sprint’s most potent weapon …

Apple has released an update to iOS, bringing the latest version to 7.1. There are bug fixes and usability tweaks, including an update to Siri that gives the personal assistant a distinctly Australian voice. (Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET) This is the first major update to the operating system since iOS 7 was released in September 2013. The look and feel of …

Phones really are getting bigger. Why, buy the new Sony Xperia Z2 from UK network Vodafone and it comes with a 32-inch screen! Well, sort of: the first 3,000 people to order the 5.2-inch Z2 from Vodafone get a 32-inch Sony Bravia television thrown in for free. You can pre-order the Z2 now, and it hits shops to buy on …

Jason Cipriani/CNET iOS 7 launched with a revamped design and new features galore. Not all features were welcomed, with some users pleading for the ability to revert back to iOS 6 or turn off some of the more “annoying” features. One such feature was the motion found through iOS 7, including on the wallpaper background across all home screens. Apple …

The third layer of a recursive video mashing up ‘The Simpsons’ and the ‘Lego Movie.’ Screen shot by CNET Love “The Simpsons” and love “The Lego Movie?” Then how can you not love this terrific video, which spoofs both in one simple recursive all-brick mashup? Made by YouTube filmmaker Monsieur Caron, the video depicts the famous opening title sequence of …

Vimeo For the first birthday of Vimeo On Demand, the video-sharing site is giving its pay-for-play platform an overhaul. Monday, user-created-video site Vimeo released its refreshed version of Vimeo On Demand, which is a feature of its $199-a-year subscription known as Vimeo Pro. Vimeo Pro lets creators upload higher-quality video and get access to tools like Vimeo On Demand, which …