Nearly half of U.S. adults turn into mindless goo without their smartphone

Bank of America debuted its new Trends in Consumer Mobility Report survey, which tracks trends in the mobile space. Of those surveyed, 85% check their smartphone a few times per day. Nothing unexpected there. 35% of those responding, say that they check their phone on the hour. And a whopping 47% of U.S. adults said that they could not live more than one day without their handset. An even more desperate 13%, said that they can not go more than 60 minutes without being able to use their phone.



Here is an interesting question. What would you give up in order to get your handset back, if it ...

This iPhone 6 concept ignores iOS 8, uses iOS 9 instead

Fresh iPhone 6 concept designs seem to pop up almost daily, but not all of them are realistic, or worthy of mention. However, we spotted a new iPhone 6 concept that’s interesting, not just because it’s well made, but also because, instead of using iOS 8, it comes with iOS 9 - which, of course, hasn’t been announced.



Created by Georgian designer Giorgi Tedoradze, this iPhone 6 concept is 6.8mm thin, and features a 4.7 inch display with 840 x 1,436 pixels, quad-core 1.6GHz processor, 10MP rear camera with OIS, and a 2,450 mAh battery. As for iOS 9, this supposedly helps iPhone fans who may ...

Unannounced Xiaomi Mi4 poses for the camera in black and white

The Xiaomi Mi4 is expected to be the sequel to the manufacturer's current flagship model, the Xiaomi Mi3. So what can we expect from the innovative manufacturer, with its new flagship handset? A unibody metal design is one feature that has been bandied about, along with a super-unannounced quad-core processor, and a 16MP rear camera. The latter is believed to have an aperture large enough to take great pictures even under low-light conditions. To achieve that, we should see the camera's f-stop at f/2.0 or lower.



According to someone familiar with Xiaomi's plans, the camera will be optimized ...

Windows 9 and Office Touch scheduled for April 2015, may kill desktop on smaller tablets

The Metro/Modern UI for Windows has been something that has caused a pretty big divide for users. Some love the unified look for Microsoft's devices, and some hate the change and prefer the traditional desktop. New rumors are saying that Microsoft is listening to both sides of the argument, and is looking to address all concerns with Windows 9 in April 2015.

Right now, the rumors are saying that PCs and larger tablets will see a bigger focus on the traditional desktop. PCs could default to the desktop and require users to turn on the Modern UI. Many desktop users don't like the ...

The Emojli app doesn't let words get in the way of chatting

Depending on your age group and friends, you may be under the impression that words are a dying form of communication. There are plenty of ways to communicate with one another through pictures, video, or good old emoji, and now Emojli wants to take that last option to a bit of an extreme by only allowing emoji in chats.

The entire social network will be emoticons-only. This means your username will be a string of emoji and all communications will be emoji-only. The idea is to eliminate spam, trolls, and hashtags, but we're not so sure trolls can be killed off that easily. On ...

Apple releases iOS 7.1.2; update exterminates bugs and improves iBeacon

Apple has released iOS 7.1.2, which is a minor update that features a security fix and the extermination of some bugs. One bug that is fixed by the update, resolves a problem with data transfer that prevented third party apps, such as bar code scanners, from working. It even includes a fix for a security issue that affected the encryption of attachments to emails.



The update to iOS 7.1.2 will also bring some connectivity improvements and added stability to iBeacon. This is the connectivity tool that uses Bluetooth LE to send directed messages to iDevices based on location. For example, ...

These dramatic LG commercials show the advantages of Knock Code (on the G3 and not only)

Ever since unveiling Knock Code for the first time (in February), LG touted it as being safer than other screen unlocking methods (including Apple’s Touch ID). Now, LG has finally made a series of commercials to show us exact scenarios in which Knock Code can better protect your smartphone’s security. There are four commercials to watch, each tying to conclude that Knock Code is better than fingerprint recognition, face detection, pattern lock, or pin codes. If you want our opinion, Knock Code can indeed be better in some situations, but not so much in others.



As you may know, Knock Code ...

Awesome puzzler Blek makes its way to Android

If you love puzzles, and want something a bit more challenging than you would normally find on a mobile platform, Blek might be exactly what you're looking for. iOS users have had the game for a while now, but now Blek has been released into the Google Play Store for Android users as well.

The game relies on one simple mechanic: you draw something, and that line will repeat as it makes its way across the board. The aim is to get your line to touch the colored dots while avoiding the black ones. The idea sounds simple enough, but as you can see in the game trailer below, it can ...

LG Optimus G and Optimus G Pro should be updated to Android KitKat in the coming months

If you own an LG Optimus G, or a slightly newer Optimus G Pro, you’ll be happy to find out that both smartphones should receive official Android 4.4 KitKat updates pretty soon.



According to LG Brazil and its official Facebook account, the Optimus G Pro will get a taste of KitKat starting July, while the Optimus G should receive the update a month later, in August. It’s not clear if the updates are expect to arrive to all Optimus G and G Pro users around the world, but we see no reason for this not to happen.



LG Brazil also mentions that the LG G Pro Lite and LG Optimus L7 II should ...

Android 4.3 has dangerous, but difficult to exploit, security flaw

Whenever there is a security flaw found in any mobile platform, people tend to go a bit overboard, but that is never more apparent than when dealing with Android. Android has the reputation of being a haven for malware (which is only true if you have to rely on un-trusted sources for apps), so when IBM reported a security flaw in Android 4.3, the response was unsurprisingly alarmist.

The problem started with IBM itself. IBM security researchers found the flaw back in September, and reported it to the Android Security Team at Google. Somehow, although IBM found the flaw nine months ...

Motorola Moto X+1 specs leak on Brazilian website

We might have seen the specs for the Motorola Moto X+1 leak out, thanks to a website in Brazil. The Logos Bookstore is in the middle of constructing a pre-order page for the new Motorola handset. The Bookstore does have a track record, since it correctly leaked information about the Motorola Moto E two days before that entry-level model was introduced.



According to the site, the Motorola Moto X+1 features a 5.2 inch screen with resolution of 1080 x 1920. A quad-core 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 is under the hood with 2GB of RAM on board, and 32GB of native storage inside. For those desiring more ...

Tizen-based Samsung Galaxy S5 apparently in testing

Less than a month after Samsung announced its first Tizen-based smartphone (the Samsung Z), we’re now hearing that the South Korean company may be testing a Galaxy S5 variant that also uses Tizen OS (instead of Android).



According to Zauba - a website that lists products imported and exported to and from India - a few “Samsung Galaxy S5 Tizen test phones” recently arrived in the country from South Korea. Of course, even if Samsung is testing Tizen on the Galaxy S5, this doesn’t mean that it wants to commercialize a non-Android S5. At the moment, the Galaxy line exclusively includes Android ...

Pictures of the Sony Xperia Z3 and Sony Xperia Z3 Compact leak?

With Sony sticking to its schedule, churning out flagship handsets every 6 months, we have a leaked photograph showing off an image of both the Sony Xperia Z3 and the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. There could be some similarities with the Sony Xperia T in terms of design. In addition, it would appear that the Xperia Z3 will have a metal frame. Both variants of the Xperia Z3 are unannounced at this point in time.



There is some speculation that Sony will decide to use the Snapdragon 801 for the Sony Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact, and wait for the Sony Xperia Z4 to use the 64-bit Snapdragon 810. ...

4.7-inch iPhone 6 screen glass images leak out: black and white models compared

The upcoming iPhone 6 is said to enter mass production in July, and just days before that timeframe, we’re seeing an influx of leaks. This one in particular is our first sighting of the supposed screen glass of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6, and you can see very clearly that there is just a slight curve around the edges. While earlier rumors have speculated that we might see a curved screen on the iPhone 6, this latest leak shows that the curve might be a very subtle one.



Such supposed tapered edges of the next iPhone should make it easier to slide your finger from the edge of the display. Swipe ...

Google will shut down Orkut this September to focus on Google+, YouTube and Blogger

Before the existence of Facebook, Twitter, and many others, Google launched its own social networking website called Orkut. Functional since January 2004, Orkut is no longer part of Google’s future plans, so the Mountain View giant announced that the service would be phased out come September 30.



Although it was somewhat popular at some point, Orkut never really took off on a global scale. Instead, YouTube, Blogger and Google+ did. So Google is shutting down Orkut not just because this is in decline, but also because it wants to focus its “energy and resources on making these other social ...

Report: Apple could face production problems trying to make the Apple iPhone 6 screen thinner

A new report that was published on Monday, cites sources in the supply chain as saying that Apple is facing the possibility of production issues with the Apple iPhone 6. The reason for a potential drop in yield is Apple's desire to make the screen thinner, by using just one brightness enhancement film (BEC) for the backlit LCD display on the device. Apple usually uses two BECs, obtained from its supplier Miebea, for the iPhone display.



The problem is that by using just one BEC, Apple is depending on one film to do the work of two. This could lead to a lower production yield for the handset. ...

Why can't Google Now, Siri, and Cortana offer full voice control?

I love voice control. Let's just get that out there right from the start. I may be a writer, meaning that I am at my best when conveying my thoughts through the written word and not on the spot talking; but, I am also a lazy man, and I like to be able to get things done with the minimal amount of interaction with my computing devices. As such, I can't help but wonder: why can't Google Now, Siri, and Cortana offer full voice control?

As already mentioned, I love voice control. It is one of the main reasons why I traded in my Nexus 5 for a Moto X - I wanted the Touchless Controls. ...

Gionee tries to make fun of Samsung's "plastic" Galaxy S5 in this Elife S5.5 commercial

If you don’t live somewhere in Southeast Asia, chances are that you’ve never heard of Gionee. Even so, earlier this year, the China-based company announced the world’s slimmest smartphone: the Elife S5.5 - which, as its name suggests, is only 5.5mm thin.



Available in China since March, the Elife S5.5 was recently introduced in India, and Gionee certainly wants to make a splash there, as it launched a commercial that directly attacks Samsung’s Galaxy S5. The commercial - embedded below - presents a seemingly luxurious party where a young woman is using a Galaxy S5, while another young woman ...

Pre-order the LG G3 from T-Mobile now

T-Mobile announced on Monday, that it has started accepting pre-orders for the LG G3. The nation's fourth largest carrier will be the first in the states to offer the manufacturer's new flagship handset. T-Mobile also gave away 28 handsets to those who won its LG G3 Open Beta Sweepstakes. 74,000 entries were received by T-Mobile.



The phone is expected to ship on July 15th, and be on store shelves the very next day. The LG G3 is priced at $598. Verizon is expected to launch its version of the LG G3 on July 17th. While no announcement has been made, we expect Big Red to price the phone at ...

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 getting updated with Galaxy S5 features: Download Booster and KNOX 2

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is starting to receive an update, granting it some of the features previously reserved only for the flagship Galaxy S5.



This new update is already rolling out in select markets like the UK (as always, it’s a gradual roll-out, so you might need to wait a few weeks until it arrives to your region), and it’s available for the Snapdragon 800-powered Note 3 version.



What are the new features that it brings? The first one is KNOX 2.0, Samsung’s secure enterprise mobile platform, allowing companies to better handle bring-your-own-device ...

The iPhone 6 might surprise with different looks: curved screen and a glowing Apple logo

The upcoming iPhone 6 might look different than all the leaked images suggest, according to a report by well-connected Japanese publication Nikkei.



We’ve seen the dummy units that have been flying around in the past month or so, all with weird-looking strips of plastic breaking the metal frame, outlining openings for the antenna of the iPhone 6. This, however, might not be the final design - Nikkei suggests that these are just markings to show where manufacturers will need to cut out spots for two glass pieces, resulting in an iPhone 6 that would resemble closely ...

Samsung Galaxy Young 2

The Samsung Galaxy Young 2 is an entry level Dual-SIM Android 4.4 device with a 1 GHz single core CPU, 512 MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, 3-megapixel camera, 3.5-inch HVGA display, FM Radio and 1300 mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy Ace 4

The Samsung Galaxy Ace 4 is a an Android 4.4 phone with a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 5-megapixel camera with flash, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 1GB of RAM and 4GB of storage.

Samsung reveals the Galaxy Ace 4 in both 3G and LTE variations

Samsung poured a bunch of low- to midrange phones over our unsuspecting tech heads today, announcing long-awaited sequels to its Ace, Core, and Young lines. One of these successors is the Galaxy Ace 4, but if you have been waiting for a huge specs upgrade over the Ace 3, you'll be in for a disappointment.

The Ace 4 sports roughly the same specs like its predecessor, but, naturally, comes with Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box, so no harm, no foul. There are actually two versions of the Ace 4 - one with 3G-only, and one with 4G Lte connectivity. the differences, besides the cellular ...

Meet Samsung's Galaxy Young 2 – a perfectly fine phone for your little ones

It looks like Google delivered on its promise to make Android 4.4 play nice with the modest-est 512MB RAM devices out there, because otherwise, Samsung's latest smartphones wouldn't have been a possibility. Joining the Galaxy Ace 4, Star 2, and Core II, the new Samsung Galaxy Young 2 is described as "an ideal smartphone for the user who focus on essential features and usability" (original writing preserved).



The minion features a 3.5 TFT display with 320x480 resolution and is powered by a single-core CPU clocked at 1.0GHz, teamed up with 512MB of RAM. It runs Android 4.4 KitKat styled with ...

Samsung Galaxy Core II is now official: 4.5” Android KitKat phone with dual SIM functionality

The Samsung Galaxy Core II has just arrived to refresh and rejuvenate the lower mid-range ranks of Samsung’s Android smartphone army.



A successor to last year’s successful 4.3” Galaxy Core, the Core II comes with some significant improvements: a larger, 4.5” display, a more powerful, 1.2GHz quad-core chip (versus a dual-core one on the original Galaxy Core), and a bigger, 2000mAh battery (vs a 1800mAh juicer on the first Core). It’s also got a new leather-imitating finish, contributing to a new, softer touch and feel. With the larger screen, though, the Core II has grown bigger in ...

Samsung Galaxy Star 2 is a low-end, dual-SIM smartphone with KitKat on board

Samsung is on a roll today. The company just added a whole bunch of Android phones to its roster, and among them is the Samsung Galaxy Star 2. It is described as a "stylish and portable" handset made with single-handed usage in mind, and looking at its specs, it is shaping up as an entry-level, budget-friendly offering.



Design-wise, the Samsung Galaxy Star 2 appears to have been treated to a finish that closely resembles the faux leather found on the Galaxy Note 3. It is a portable handset indeed as it sports a small-ish, 3.5-inch display. Buttons and ports are at their usual locations. ...

Nokia XL Review

Introduction

The 5-inch Nokia XL is the largest in Nokia’s family of affordable Android-running phones, but just like all the rest in the X series, you’d find it hard to recognize it as an Android phone. This is because of Android Nokia X - the company’s own custom version of the platform that brings a Windows Phone-inspired interface and comes without all core Google apps. The Nokia XL does not even have the Google Play Store - instead it comes with Nokia’s own app catalog that lacks even very popular apps like Spotify and Netflix.



The Nokia XL also got quite a few things going on - ...

Microsoft halted production of the Surface Mini just as it was about to start

According to sources from inside Chinese contract manufacturers, Microsoft halted the Surface Mini tablet just as it was ready to enter mass production. It is said that all work on the device was completed, including product testing and paying full production costs. Alas, production scheduled for May never started.



Before it got its plug pulled, the Surface Mini allegedly had a 7.5 inch to 8-inch display, an ARM processor, and ran Windows RT 8.1.



The report implies that Microsoft had little confidence in the Surface Mini's abilities to compete within the small tablet market segment, ...

iPhone 6 release date: second half of September

Following the WWDC 2014 keynote, we were able to use some of the hints Apple let out to come up with a guesstimate about the release date of the iPhone 6. According to the info we're working with, the iPhone 6 isn't coming earlier than this September. In fact, we believe the iPhone 6 release date will be sometime in the second half of September. Here's why we think so.



At WWDC 2014's keynote, Apple announced iOS 8 - the upcoming version of iOS 7, and the operating system that's going to come preloaded on the new iPhone. And while the iOS 8 beta is already available for developers, it's been ...

Apple iPhone trade-in program comes to Italy

Apple has exported its trade-in plan to Italy. Started last year in the U.S. prior to the launch of the Apple iPhone 5s and Apple iPhone 5c, the program allows consumers to trade-in an older iPhone model to Apple in return for an Apple Store gift card worth as much as €220 ($300 USD). The card can be used toward the purchase of a new iPhone.



After debuting in the states, the trade-in program migrated to the U.K., Canada and France, before being available in Italy. Apple also has a mail-in program that allows iPhone owners to mail-in their current model in exchange for Apple Store credit. ...

How to get the Android L performance boost on your phone now (swap Dalvik with ART tutorial)

Android L introduces the new Material Design to the world, but the update to L is not just about the visual appeal - it’s also about improved performance. There are many optimizations that Google made under the hood, but the one with the hugest impact in the future is the change to a brand new runtime environment - ART.



Skipping the technicalities, let’s just say that the current runtime environment - Dalvik - only supports 32-bit apps, while the new one is fully 64-bit aware. While we are yet to witness the first Android phones with a 64-bit chip, good news is that you can use this new ...

Check out the latest Apple iPhone ad called "Parenthood"

Apple has started running a new commercial for the iPhone that it created in-house. Named "Parenthood," the 60 second spot shows how the Apple iPhone 5s can be used as a tool to help parents interact with their kids. The handset is used as a video baby monitor, a thermometer for taking a child's temperature, and a video camera to film some of the wonders of nature.



Even when Mom is away on a business trip (well, that's what she told Dad anyway), she can help tutor Junior with his math through the use of flash cards and FaceTime. And an iPhone mounted on the handlebar of a stroller, helps ...

In one second, 10,000 units of the Xiaomi Redmi Note were sold

You might recall the Xiaomi Redmi Note as being the 5.5 inch phablet that is powered by the MT6592 true octa-core chip from MediaTek. We are talking about a 720 x 1280 resolution screen, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of native storage. A 13MP rear snapper is included and it is all powered by a 3200mAh battery. The device scored a pretty decent 28,000 on the AnTuTu Benchmark site, not bad for a sub-$200 phone.



Back in March, taking just 34 minutes, Xiaomi sold 100,000 units of the Note in China. Now, in Taiwan, 10,000 units of the phone were sold in one second. Some buyers were upset that their browsers ...

Samsung intros the Galaxy Core Mini 4G: Android KitKat on a 4.3-inch screen

Samsung recently introduced another Android smartphone that’s included in its Galaxy Core family, which seems to be getting bigger with each month that passes by. The new handset is called Galaxy Core Mini 4G (model number SM-G3568V), and it’s been officially unveiled in China.



Although it features 4G LTE connectivity, the Samsung Galaxy Core Mini is far from being a high-end device. It offers a 4.3-inch display with 480 x 800 pixels, a 5MP rear camera, quad-core 1.2GHz processor, 1.5GB of RAM, and 8GB of expandable internal memory. The smartphone runs Android 4.4 KitKat, weighs 136 grams, ...

HTC's update plans include Android 4.4.4 for HTC One (M8)

HTC has already announced that it will update the HTC One (M7) and HTC One (M8) to Android L, no longer than 90 days after Google drops off the final version of the OS. Now, XDA contributer and HTC insider Llabtoofer has posted a chart, showing which devices should be receiving updates in the future, and which HTC models have reached the end of the road.



The Android 4.4.3 update, along with some future tweaking of Sense 6.0, is confirmed for the HTC One (M8) and HTC One (M7). But because Android 4.4.4 is pretty much a lightweight update, HTC might stop its plans for making Android 4.4.3 ...

LG G3 mini to be known as the LG G3 Beat for China Mobile

Photographs out of China reveal that in the country, the LG G3 mini for China Mobile will be known as the LG G3 Beat. The device will have a model number of LG-D729, and will feature a 5 inch screen with a resolution of 720 x 1280. This seems to contradict recent expectations that a 4.5 inch screen will be employed for the LG G3 mini. A quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 is under the hood, and the phone will have 2GB of RAM and 16GB of native storage inside. The camera on back weighs in at 8MP, and it's all powered by a 2300mAh battery.



Database entries on the official LG website, ...

Here is a surprisingly low tech look at Material Design for Android L

Google is the epitome of high-tech. At the developers’ conference last week we were introduced to the latest in tech wizardry in what will be the next generation of the Android operating system.



Among all the announcements, a considerable amount of time was spent talking about the design elements in the new user experience. Called Material Design, the colors and layers that developers can now take advantage of will give Android an aptly timed makeover.



When it comes to design, especially design that is utilized by various agents (or developers in this case), there is a standard ...

Windows Phone 8.1 to be pushed out in the first two weeks of next month?

A tweet from the Microsoft India Twitter account, might have given us an idea when to expect Windows Phone 8.1 to be released. In response to a question about when to expect the update, Microsoft India replied that it would be made available to existing Windows Phone 8 users some time during the first two weeks of July. The only question is whether this answer is specific to the Indian market, or relates to a global roll out of the latest Windows Phone build.



U.S. recipients of the update are looking forward to the Windows Phone 8.1 update, because it will bring virtual personal assistant ...

Google says no to custom skins on Android Wear, TV, and Auto

One of the biggest complaints throughout Android's history has been the inconsistency of the user interface depending on what manufacturer you choose. There have been fairly big differences between stock Android, TouchWiz, Sense, and others. But, Google is taking control and not allowing custom skins on Android Wear, TV, and Auto.

Custom skins on phones and tablets have been moving towards stock more (except for Samsung), and are mostly lightweight compared to how they used to be. David Burke, head of engineering for Android and the Nexus program, told Ars Technica that "The ...

Microsoft engineer: Something "Pretty Amazing" is coming to Windows Phone

According to Jerry Berg, Senior Software Development Engineer at Microsoft, something amazing is coming to Windows Phone. The actual comment that Berg said was that "something is going to happen in the Windows Phone space which is going to upset the entire world across anything...wait for it, its going to be pretty amazing." That is about all he would say, which of course will leave many of you excited, but unfulfilled.



Berg could be talking about the rumored sequel to the Nokia Lumia 1020, which for now has been given the codename "McLaren". Besides an amazing rear camera, worthy of taking ...

5 LG G3 features that Apple should add to future iPhones

In the last few years, LG proved that it can make pretty good smartphones. It isn’t by accident, then, that the South Korean company was selected by Google to manufacture its two latest Nexus smartphones: the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5. This gave a lot of credit to LG, which, unlike HTC or Samsung, wasn’t among the first companies to join the Android bandwagon.



LG’s most advanced smartphone yet is the brand new G3, which was introduced last month as its first mobile device to sport a Quad HD (1,440 x 2,560 pixels) display. The G3 is an impressive piece of technology, ...

Did you know that the world record for fastest SMS typing has more than halved since 2006?

The day is November 12, 2006. SingTel, one of Singapore's wireless carriers, is hosting the SMS Shootout challenge, in which participants have to type a 160-character, 26-word text message as quickly as possible. 16-year-old Ang Chuang Yang is among the 300+ contestants, and he doesn't simply win the first place award, along with $25 000 in cash and prizes. He actually shatters the world record with a time of 41.52 seconds, thus beating the record set previously that year by 0.7 seconds.

"The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious ...

How to get the Android L performance boost on your phone now (swap Dalvik to ART tutorial)

Android L introduces the new Material Design to the world, but the update to L is not just about the visual appeal - it’s also about improved performance. There are many optimizations that Google made under the hood, but the one with the hugest impact in the future is the change to a brand new runtime environment - ART.



Skipping the technicalities, let’s just say that the current runtime environment - Dalvik - only supports 32-bit apps, while the new one is fully 64-bit aware. While we are yet to witness the first Android phones with a 64-bit chip, good news is that you can use this new ...

Did you know that Android L brings a ground-breaking new Camera API?

The Android L release is one of the biggest system updates for Google’s mobile OS with the new ‘Material Design’, but it is the changes under the hood that make it even more important.



One in particular is set to give a ground-breaking and reinvigorating shake to mobile photography - after years using the restricted Camera v1 API, Google finally adopts a brand new API that speeds up the camera radically and allows for much more advanced third-party apps. The changes in it put Android a leap ahead the other platforms in terms of settings and capabilities for camera app developers.



The ...

Rumor: Microsoft smartwatch coming in October, features 11 sensors and supports multiple platforms

Forget about that idea we mentioned the other day, about Microsoft sitting back and collecting royalty fees on smartwatch patents, while others do the heavy lifting. A new rumor has just started spreading about Microsoft's entrant into the smartwatch business. According to the speculation, the timepiece will carry 11 sensors, support multiple platforms, and feature a display on the underside of the band. Some of you watch wearers do find it easier to turn your palm up, to look at the time.



Instead of going with a larger rectangular display like the LG G Watch, or a circular one like the ...

Check out this interesting project from Google's Advanced Technology and Projects team

You may have heard of Google X, the team that works on moonshot, advanced ideas that push technology to the limit and explore new ways to develop new and emerging technology.



The Advanced Technology and Projects team, also known as ATAP, was originally part of Motorola at the time of Google’s acquisition, and the team has found itself a comfortable home in Mountain View working on things like Project Tango as well as a slightly less well known project called Spotlight Stories.



Spotlight Stories takes the Spotlight app which some (we incorrectly noted “all Moto X” devices in the video) ...

Kinivo M2 Bluetooth 2.1 Speaker System Review

Introduction

The name isn’t something deemed as well-known, but nevertheless, consumer electronics products maker Kinivo has dipped its hands in manufacturing Bluetooth speakers in the past – so this latest endeavor isn’t too surprising. Instead of coming up with a portable Bluetooth speaker, which is what we’ve seen previously on several occasions, they’ve opted to go with an in-home audio solution this time around. No doubt a stationary configuration, the Kinivo M2 Bluetooth 2.1 Speaker system is aiming to give audio purists a package that won’t strain the wallet.



The package contains: ...

Only 25% of Android phones support Android Wear

If you're planning on purchasing one of those new Android Wear flavored smartwatches, here is something that you need to consider. These wearables require that the syncing Android smartphone used, be powered by Android 4.3 or higher. The problem is that this requirement quickly eliminates 75% of Android smartphones from being used with an Android Wear smartwatch.



The latest Android distribution figures showed 23.9% of Android handsets powered by Android 4.3 and Android 4.4. That dramatically cuts the possible pool of potential customers for the LG G Watch, and the Samsung Gear Live. The ...

Here's your passport to more BlackBerry Passport leaks

As we told you on Friday, BlackBerry has an interesting handset in the BlackBerry Passport. With a 1440 x 1440 resolution on a screen under 5 inches, we are talking about a rather meaty pixel density, surely the highest ever seen on a BlackBerry phone. On Saturday, a ton of leaks about the model were tweeted out by someone who obviously snatched up an advanced unit of the handset.



Even if you are sure that you will never leave your current platform, you need to keep track at what BlackBerry is doing here. Even if you have made a pledge never to leave iOS, Android or Windows Phone, stranger ...