Google’s invitation for an upcoming event in New York Google Google sent out press invitations today that included a colorful New York skyline (complete with the Brooklyn Bridge), and a simple tagline that read: “The playground is open.” Related Stories Google’s Pixel Watch Will Reportedly Cost $350+ Best Home Security Cameras of 2022 Here’s How …

(Credit: Capcom) One thing that I love about working as a technology journalist is that we are always moving forward. The industry is always maturing; devices get faster, screens are larger, brighter and sharper. New things become old things, Walkmans become cavemen. This, dear reader, is why the effect of 4G on battery life bothers me so much. Because worrying …

HTC has unveiled its new high-end HTC J Butterfly smartphone aimed at the Japanese market. The Taiwanese phone maker announced today the arrival of the new handset, which features a 5-inch, 1080p display. The HTC J Butterfly — available in red, white, or black — boasts a 440ppi HD “Super LCD 3” panel, an 8-megapixel rear camera that can cope …

Android 4.1 continues to reach more Samsung Galaxy S3 owners throughout the world. France, Spain, Romania, and Austria are the latest spots in Europe to receive the Jelly Bean update for the S3, according to blog site SamMobile. Users in those countries can actually grab the new version from SamMobile. But the site advises people to use Samsung’s own Kies …

Google has added a feature that lets Google Play users top off their credit by simply visiting the Web version of the storefront. The move comes on the heels of the recent introduction of physical gift cards in various retail stores. Scrolling to the bottom of the Google Play store, you can now click on a link that allows for …

Google might soon launch a cheaper Nexus tablet. The company is currently working with Taiwan-based Quanta Computer to produce a $99 Nexus tablet boasting a single-core processor that will launch by the end of this year, DigiTimes is reporting today, citing sources. According to the tech-news blog’s sources, the tablet isn’t being developed in partnership with Asus, the company that …

The smartphone industry has reached an important milestone. During the third quarter, the total installed base for smartphones worldwide hit 1.04 billion, jumping from the 959 million smartphones in use during the second quarter, research firm Strategy Analytics announced today. Just a year ago, the total worldwide smartphone installed base was 708 million. It took 16 years for smartphones to …

Sprint Nextel may soon gain control of wireless broadband provider Clearwire without an acquisition, clearing up a stumbling block to Softbank’s $20 billion acquisition of Sprint. Sprint is Clearwire’s largest customer and its largest shareholder with an 84 percent stake, but the No. 3 U.S. wireless carrier doesn’t have control of Clearwire’s board. To take control of the company, the …

Verizon Wireless is set to become the next wireless provider to offer carrier billing for Google Play purchases, according to unconfirmed reports. An internal Verizon screenshot obtained by Droid Life shows that the feature will be enabled later this week, specifically on October 18. It it follows through, Verizon would be the last major U.S. carrier to adopt the billing …

In 2012, we made some changes to the way we rate televisions, with the biggest one being the new Value score. CNET now apportions 40 percent of the total TV score to value. Whether it’s worth $300 or $3,000, you want to know that the TV you’re buying represents the best you can get for the price, and that’s where …