February, 2012

• 9 February

  Morrison’s Mailbag: Why does my TV have a noise reduction setting?

  

  CNET reader “Nindevo” asks: In regards to your articles about the HDMI cables, I was just wondering why TVs have “noise reduction” settings. I thought digital signals (HDMI) couldn’t have noise. Interesting question. This is actually a pretty common mistake. There are actually three things going on: the cable, the signal, and the TV. 1) …

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• 8 February

  LG Optimus Vu is a 5

  

  If you thought the 5.3-inch Samsung Galaxy Note was a huge flash in the gigantic pan, you were massively mistaken. LG is looking to make its own sled-sized smart phone, giving us a glimpse of the LG Optimus Vu in a new teaser trailer. This 5-inch mobile is different from Samsung’s Note in one major respect though — it boasts …

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• 8 February

  Rumor: Siri to add Japanese, Mandarin, Russian next month

  

  According to a new rumor, Siri may gain support for Japanese, Mandarin, and Russian as early as next month. Image composite by Joe Aimonetti The news comes from a Chinese technology news site, DoNews (via Penn Olson), claiming to have spoken to an Apple engineer working on the Chinese-language version of Apple’s voice-controlled personal assistant, Siri. The source told DoNews …

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• 8 February

  Android Atlas Weekly 84: Chrome finally hits Android (Podcast)

  

  Chrome comes to Android with one gigantic caveat. Or maybe two. And we are joined by cell phone expert Jessica Dolcourt who gives us her personal opinion of Android. Now playing: Watch this: Ep. 84: Chrome finally hits Android 42:55 Podcast Your browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe: iTunes (MP3) | iTunes (320×180) | iTunes (640×360) | RSS (MP3) | RSS (320×180) | RSS …

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• 8 February

  Wireless carriers rally to preserve FCC power

  

  The wireless carriers may not agree on much, but enough of them rallied to support the Federal Communications Commission’s power to hold spectrum auctions the way it sees fit. Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, C-Spire Wireless, Leap Wireless, NorthwestCell, Bluegrass Cellular, Atlantic Tele-Network, and the competitive carrier trade group RCA sent a joint letter to 20 senators and representatives calling for the …

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• 8 February

  Motorola Motoluxe motors to the UK in late February

  

  The Motorola Motoluxe will be moseying on over to the UK later this month, giving those hunting for a mid-range smart phone reason to look interested. Meanwhile Amazon will be flogging it SIM-free from 22 March, priced at £250. We haven’t had the opportunity to give the Motoluxe the full review treatment yet, but comparing the specs with the price, …

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• 8 February

  Keith Harris & Orville in nuts GiffGaff unlock a chicken rap

  

  I wish I could get out of my phone contract but I can’t. Yes you can — that’s the message from budget phone network GiffGaff, which has recruited Keith Harris and Orville to free you from lengthy phone contracts — and help some chickens at the same time. There is absolutely nothing about this that makes any sense, but some …

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• 8 February

  Verizon offers data usage controls, makes parents more uncool

  

  As if being a kid weren’t hard enough, teenagers all over the country may have another reason to cry out in angst: Verizon is offering customers new data restrictions under its Usage Controls service. Verizon Wireless Previously, Verizon customers who used Usage Controls were able to only restrict voice and texting capabilities of members who belonged under their family plans. …

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• 8 February

  LG goes big with 5

  

  LG has started dropping hints about its next Android device, an oversize smartphone known as the Optimus Vu. Aside from its name and the fact that it features an unorthodox 4:3 aspect ratio, nothing else can be gleaned from a newly uncovered YouTube video. That’s not to say, however, that there are no other details to speak of. A pair …

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• 8 February

  New standards make using carrier Wi

  

  Joining a carrier Wi-Fi hot spot on your smartphone or tablet will soon be as simple as turning on your device. That means no more scrolling through lists of available Wi-Fi networks, and no more typing passwords to join networks. Wireless carriers all over the world have been turning to Wi-Fi to alleviate network congestion, but the onus of actually …

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