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Bowing to market pressures and customer demand for access to the full breadth of Android apps, Barnes & Noble has made the bold move of adding the Google Play store to its two latest tablets, the Nook HD and Nook HD+. The free software update, which also includes the Chrome Web browser, doesn't turn the company's tablets into true "open" Android devices, but it does make them much more open than they were. It will be available today to download from bn.com and will be rolled out to devices in the coming days via an … Read more

Angry Birds Friends has hatched from Facebook into a full-fledged iOS and Android app.

Available as of Thursday at both Apple's App Store and Google Play, the free game offers a socially-network twist. You compete against your Facebook friends as you try to take down those bad piggies.

All the points you rack up by slinging those angry birds are compared with those of your Facebook friends to see who emerges the winner.

Angry Birds Friends offers new tournaments each Monday promising new challenges, daily rewards, and a chance to take home the gold trophy.

Your tournament gameplay automatically … Read more

BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins is not a fan of tablets.

Heins questioned the need for the mobile devices in an interview with Bloomberg on Monday.

"In five years I don't think there'll be a reason to have a tablet anymore," he said to Bloomberg.

Those are bold words for BlackBerry, which, of course, has had a checkered history with its sole attempt at a tablet, the BlackBerry PlayBook. The PlayBook, which was a massive flop when it debuted without core BlackBerry e-mail and messaging apps, is now considered more of a bargain-bin item.

Still, there are … Read more

If your child can't put down your smartphone or tablet, it's good to have an array of fun but educational games on retainer. Kids Learn n Play (Free) is designed to help them learn their ABCs, but it's not as deep or polished as other learning games on Android and there are a few other issues that detract from its ability to help your kids learn the alphabet or spelling.

There might be an initial moment of confusion because the app shows up as "English Alphabet" in your phone's app launcher. It has two … Read more

Hot on the heels of Microsoft's invitation to check out the next Xbox, Sony pushed out a shiny, new YouTube video highlighting the added features of the PlayStation 4 controller, along with a healthy peppering of praise from its creators.

"Everything's been tuned -- the feel of the analog sticks, the sensitivity of both different types of triggers," Scott Rohde, PlayStation product development SVP, says in the video.… Read more

Microsoft has made it official: the next Xbox will be unveiled at a May 21 event in Redmond, Wash., just weeks before E3 opens its doors. This looks like the inevitable Xbox-PlayStation next-gen console war we've all been expecting.

What will it take for Microsoft to keep its strong foothold in the gaming industry? Here's what I'm looking for.

Be the ultimate TV-streaming (and movie-playing) box The Xbox 360 has already carved a great role for itself as a streaming-media hub, and rumors point to the next Xbox possibly being a true rival to a future Apple … Read more

Is there a Kindle TV box on the horizon?

According to Bloomberg Businessweek, the answer is yes. Amazon is said to be readying its own streaming-TV box to take on the likes of the Roku, Apple TV, Xbox, PlayStation -- and every TV manufacturer that now builds smart-TV apps like Netflix and Vudu directly into televisions.

The Seattle-based e-tailer already has an ambitious home video strategy. Amazon Prime customers get thousands of free movies and TV shows (in addition to free shipping of real-world goods) with the $79-per-year membership, and the company is ramping up production of original series as … Read more

The Swype learning keyboard has finally arrived at the Google Play store for download onto Android tablets and smartphones.

Already used by more than 500 million worldwide, the app allows people to slide their finger across the screen in addition to tapping, speaking, or handwriting each letter, number, or symbol. Formerly available only on select devices or through a public beta launched in 2010, the app debuts Wednesday at an introductory price of 99 cents. A free version is also available for a 30-day trial.

The app monitors users' activity to better understand their writing style and help predict when … Read more

Vroom vroom! PlayStation gamers should get ready to rev up their racing rigs as it appears Gran Turismo 6 might be coming later this year.

Following last week's discovery of Newegg's nondescript placeholder for Gran Turismo 6, Italian retailer Multiplayer put up a very revealing listing for the unannounced racing game on its Web site. Surprisingly, the page hosts a never before seen image of what could be GT6's box art as well as a November 28 release date. Keep in mind these details could be exclusive to Europe and the North America version may differ. … Read more