April, 2014

• 9 April

  Motorola names new COO as it prepares to move from Google to Lenovo

  

  New Motorola COO Rick Osterloh Weinberg-Clark Photography Rick Osterloh will take over as president and chief operating officer of Motorola, now part of Google but soon to become part of Lenovo. Osterloh, who previously ran Motorola’s product management group, replaces Dennis Woodside, who departed the company earlier this year to join Dropbox as COO. “We …

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• 9 April

  BlackBerry Diaries: day three

  

  Now playing: Watch this: BlackBerry Diaries: day three 1:44 The most recent BBOS update promised the ability to install Android app APKs directly on to your BlackBerry, without having to use a side-loading program. And it certainly delivered. You may not get the full functionality of Google Play, but provided you can find APK files you can (usually) get an …

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• 9 April

  Microsoft’s Cortana to Apple’s Siri: Are you deaf?

  

  Competition can be a beautiful thing. The Arsenio Hall Show/YouTube screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET I struggle with Siri. Apple’s virtual assistant seems not to hear the things I say. She’s convinced, in fact, that I say things that I didn’t say. Today, I said to her: “Siri, you don’t understand my accent, do you?” “Oh, no,” she replied. I cannot …

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• 9 April

  Dropbox’ Mailbox app goes Android, lands in Google Play store

  

  Screenshot by Donna Tam/CNET Mailbox , the email productivity app that garnered fans in a flash, is finally available for Android and Mac, the identically named, Dropbox-owned company announced Wednesday. The arrival of the new Android Mailbox app, which works for Gmail and iCloud accounts, also brings a feature called auto-swipe, which “uses Dropbox to sync preferences and auto-swipe patterns …

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• 9 April

  Apple iWatch rumors: Two sizes, more than $1K, flexible display

  

  Designer Todd Hamilton sketches out different possible versions of the iWatch. Todd Hamilton Apple’s rumored iWatch could be as much of a high-end fashion accessory as a high-tech gadget. AppleInsider got its hands on a research note from KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is known for successful predictions on Apple products, that says two sizes of the device could be …

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• 9 April

  Sprint’s tri

  

  Wi-Fi calling comes to Sprint’s tri-band Samsung Galaxy S4 Sprint Sprint’s tri-band Samsung Galaxy S4 is receiving a software update that lets it place calls over Wi-Fi networks. According to the carrier, this marks the fourth such smartphone to offer the capability. Related Links Sprint adds Wi-Fi calling to improve voice coverage Sprint lights up Samsung Galaxy S4 with Spark …

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• 9 April

  T

  

  T-Mobile CEO John Legere at the company’s press conference at CES 2014. CNET/James Martin T-Mobile is at it again. The upstart wireless carrier on Wednesday unveiled its latest shot at the broader industry, a $40 “Simple Starter” plan that includes unlimited talk and text and 500 megabytes of capped data. The plan will be made available in stores on Saturday, …

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• 9 April

  Samsung

  

  Samsung-branded stores are opening across Europe in time for the S5. Manuel Munoz Gomez/Samsung With the Samsung Galaxy S5 hitting shop shelves this week, Samsung has opened the doors on more branded stores in Europe today in readiness for the new flagship phone. Following 19 stores already open in Europe, the first British shops have opened in 7 UK cities, …

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• 9 April

  Google exec reiterates commitment to mobile payments

  

  The head of Google Payments, Ariel Bardin, addresses attendees at the Electronic Transaction Association’s 2014 tradeshow in Las Vegas. CNET/Marguerite Reardon LAS VEGAS — It’s been a bumpy ride for Google Wallet since its launch nearly three years ago, but in spite of the obstacles the company has faced, Google head of payments Ariel Bardin says the company isn’t giving …

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• 9 April

  T

  

  T-Mobile CEO John Legere Lori Grunin/CNET After a quiet few months, T-Mobile Chief Executive John Legere is looking to stir up some trouble again. “Just when you thought it was safe to return, T-Mobile is back,” Legere said in an interview with CNET on Wednesday. To kick things off, T-Mobile launched its , a $40 option for customers who don’t …

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