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Move over Siri, Sherpa’s in town

The march toward a better, voice-controlled future continues, even with Siri, Google Voice Search and newer digital assistants, such as Donna, already on the scene. The latest entrant is Sherpa, a natural language Android app that’s a top app in Spain and Latin America and today is rolling out in the U.S. — first for …

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Motorola promises pure Android in ‘just right’ phones

Increasingly huge phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 are missing the smart phone “sweet spot”, according to Motorola. Future phones from Google’s in-house mobile-maker will be smaller than big-screen rivals — and even better, will use pure, unadulterated Android. As many phones balloon in size to 5 inches or more, Motorola’s design chief says that instead of “bigger is …

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Samsung: Galaxy S4 for U.S. has four cores, not eight

Samsung’s Galaxy S4 may come with an octa-core processor in some countries, but here in the U.S., it’ll rock a quad-core processor. Sarah Tew/CNET Related stories Full preview: Samsung’s Galaxy S4 Galaxy S4, HTC One face off The evolution of Samsung’s Galaxy phones It’s official: Samsung’s Galaxy S4, the marquee device due out in the upcoming weeks, will feature a …

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Samsung expands smart TV content and functionality

Samsung has said that the content offering on its new smart TV is bigger than ever, with Philip Newton, VP of Consumer Products, saying that the sporting apps alone will provide users with “a minimum of 90 per cent of all global sporting activity”. Samsung’s F8000 is the flagship for its “Smart TV” range. (Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET) Newton says that …

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What you need to know about TV power consumption

This 65-inch plasma is the most power-hungry TV we’ve ever tested. It uses $6.77 per month in electricity. Sarah Tew/CNET Since 2011 the FTC has required that every TV display a yellow and black Energy Guide label estimating how much it costs to run for a year. The label assumes a price for electricity (11 cents/kWh) and a baseline usage …

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Samsung TV upgrade kit to cost ‘around AU$299’

Samsung’s Evolution Kit for its smart TVs will be available in Australia from May. The Evolution Kit being shown of at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. (Credit: Nic Healey/CNET) Speaking at Wednesday’s smart TV launch, Phil Newton, VP of Consumer Products, said that the Evolution Kit will cost “around AU$299”. He had previously told CNET Australia that the upgrade kits …

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Samsung’s 85

Back in March, Samsung announced the US price for its 85-inch Ultra HD S9 TV: US$40,000. Samsung Australia has now revealed that it will keep that price for the S9 in Australia — AU$39,999, to be exact. The 110-inch S9 at the Consumer Electronics Show in January this year. (Credit: Nic Healey/CNET) As we noted back in January when the …

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How do I look? Glasses.com app lets you try on shades at home

Here’s a common scenario: You’re looking for new frames at your optometrist or local sunglasses shop, and you realize you don’t like anything in stock. You could look through their additional catalogs, but you’re wary of ordering anything that’s not in front of you. You could also sign up for those try-at-home sites that send sample frames to you, like …

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LG to hold ‘Share the Genius’ presser on May 1

In what can only be seen as one of the vaguest invitation ever, LG sent out a notice that it will be holding a press conference two weeks from now, on May 1. Set for New York City, the event’s headline reads, “Share the Genius,” followed by the subhead, “Capture the Spotlight in True Brilliance.” In the background is an …

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