October, 2013

• 13 October

  Loud speakers for those who like to rock out

  

  Every now and then I get e-mails from readers who like to listen loud — really loud. One recent one asked, “Can you recommend a nice pair of tower or bookshelf speakers capable of keeping the party going?” Well, there’s loud, really loud, and there comes a point where it’s so loud your neighbors call …

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• 12 October

  Nexus 5/KitKat leaks get the video treatment in 7

  

  We’ve had just about all the leaked photos we can handle of Google’s yet-to-be-released Nexus flagship phone and Android 4.4 KitKat, thank you very much. (Or at least photos of gadgets that purportedly show the Nexus 5 and the new OS.) Now, we think, a little video might be nice. Related stories Android 4.4 KitKat detailed again in new Nexus …

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• 12 October

  Speaker specifications: A consumer guide

  

  I recently met with speaker designer Andrew Jones at the CNET office in NYC to discuss his latest project, the new Pioneer SP-SB23W Speaker Bar. And after we finished, I picked his brain about the value of speaker specifications. My take is that most, but not all, are nearly useless for providing consumers with information that could lead to opting …

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• 11 October

  New leaks point to US Galaxy S4 Minis, more Megas

  

  AT&T may have just added the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini to its lineup, but it’s already eyeing Samsung’s Galaxy S4 Mini, according to a well-connected industry source. AT&T isn’t alone either in coveting the smaller, scaled-back version of the Galaxy S4. A series of tweets from prominent smartphone leakster @evleaks show that Verizon, and Sprint could also join the games …

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• 11 October

  iPhone 5S has ‘blue screen of death’ bug, crashes more than 5C

  

  Apple’s iPhone 5S is seemingly taking a leaf from old-school Windows, as owners are complaining of a ‘blue screen of death’ flaw that causes the phone to restart. Tim Cook and pals’ shiny new blower, which made its grand debut last month, has a tendency to freeze up and restart when using Apple’s iWork apps, owners are complaining. The Verge …

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• 11 October

  T

  

  Now playing: Watch this: Sony’s supercharged, waterproof flagship Xperia Z1 smartphone 2:29 Despite not wanting to place much emphasis on the U.S. market, Sony could continue its relationship with T-Mobile. According to a recent leak from @evleaks, T-Mobile is expected to announce the upcoming availability of the Sony Xperia Z1. Related stories: Sony Xperia Z1 review Sony’s smartphone focus shifts …

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• 11 October

  Why I ditched the Galaxy Gear for the Fitbit Force

  

  I’ve had a love affair with high-tech watches for as long as I can remember. I still recall with fondness my beloved Casio Marlin W-300, which I cherished as a tot. I’ve also proudly worn some truly laughable devices out in public, much to my friends’ annoyance and eventual entertainment. Remember the Pimp series from Tokyo Flash? On second thought, …

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• 11 October

  HTC One: Taste the rainbow (photos, video)

  

  Now playing: Watch this: The HTC One rainbow 0:51 Counting the elusive and highly exclusive HTC One plated in 18-karat gold, the smartphone maker has created six shades of its sleek, sophisticated, and marquee Android phone. There’s the white (OK, silver) shade, plus buttoned-up black, and not one, but two types of blue. Select global markets can get their hands …

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• 11 October

  What if Apple bought eBay, asks former boss

  

  What if, what if, what if? Let’s put our speculation’ hats on for a second and ask: what if Apple bought eBay? That’s the question posed by Apple’s former boss — who reckons it would change online shopping forever. John Sculley, who ran Apple for a decade while Steve Jobs was off doing other things, reckons the iPhone and iPad …

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• 11 October

  Samsung Galaxy S5 out in January in S4 slump, report says

  

  The Samsung Galaxy S5 could be just a couple of months away, as new reports suggest the sequel to the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be rushed out to fight falling sales. Korean site Naver — founded by ex-Samsung staffers, incidentally — reports that the S5 will be revealed in January to gloss over a slump in sales of the S4. …

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