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Dear Samsung: Software is great, but please hold the bloat

Dear Samsung, Congratulations on the appointment of Dongjin Koh as the new head of your mobile communications business. Judging by his experience in software and services, Koh looks like he will bring a new perspective to creating smartphones. And let’s face it, after two years of declining profits and waning consumer interest, you probably need it. A stronger focus on …

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Pro Tip: You can use Siri to check business hours

Here’s a neat trick I didn’t realize Siri was capable of until recently: providing business hours for both big-box retailers and smaller, local businesses on demand. The feature was recently covered on OS X Daily. Asking Siri for business hours, or more simply, when business opens or closes saves you from having to search for a website, or — even …

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New tool suggests the right cell phone plan for you

Avoiding the toil required to find a better phone plan? A new online tool may be able to help. The tool, launched Wednesday, throws a number of questions at you in an attempt to narrow down the best mobile phone plan for you or your family. The phone plan search is the latest tool from Cinch Financial, a company that …

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Facebook tests live video

Facebook’s live video-streaming isn’t just for the rich and famous anymore. The social network said Thursday it has begun testing Live Video, a feature that lets people share video of events as they unfold in real time. It is an extension of the Live feature that Facebook began offering to celebrities and public figures in August and lets people choose …

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15,000 faulty hoverboards halted at UK ports as retailers issue recalls

Anyone with a self-balancing scooter atop their wish list this season may be disappointed come the big day. Border officials have already impounded more than 15,000 of the devices, commonly called hoverboards, at UK ports in the lead up to Christmas, and major British retailers have issued recall notices for versions of the product they have been selling. Trading Standards …

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Google’s next push: Virtual reality in your pocket

I’m standing on a balcony in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood with a sweeping view of the Bay Bridge, and I have to crane my neck to take in the whole view. It’s a stunning sight that the employees at Google’s offices here see often. The search giant now wants to make moments like this accessible to everyone, and it’s decided …

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Yahoo Messenger wants you back

You may know Snapchat, WhatsApp and Google’s Gchat. But do you remember Yahoo Messenger? It’s the venerable chat service from the bygone era of buddy lists and screen names, much like AOL’s Instant Messenger. Introduced in 1998, Yahoo’s service has languished in recent years as new chat apps have drawn buzz. (To be fair, an informal poll at my office …

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