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The 404 1,079: Where we ban all the skinnies (podcast)

On today's 404 episode, we'll solve the mystery of phantom cell phone vibrations and why we're so often tricked into thinking our phones have a mind of their own. One psychologist from the University of Sydney thinks that it has to do with electrical currents running through parts of the body surrounding the phone, while another professor of psychology believes it's in ours heads, that our addiction to technology has made us paranoid about e-notifications.

Walking around New York in this heatwave is enough of a workout for anyone these days, but some gym-goers in Canada are so sick of skinny people making them look bad that they've issued a ban on anyone that can't be described as "plus size."

According to the NY Daily News, Body Exchange gym in Vancouver claims to be a "safe haven" for overweight people that feel scrutinized when they work out next to those without an addiction to food. Unfortunately, we'll have to defer to Richard to comment on this story, as neither Jeff nor I have ever been inside a gym.… Read more

Speck releases new case line for Samsung Galaxy S3

A lot of companies have jumped on the case bandwagon for the freshly released Samsung Galaxy III (S3), and Speck, known for its wide assortment of iPhone cases, is out of the gate with three different styles.

The PixelSkin HD ($29.95) and FabShell ($34.95), which has a fabric back and comes in multiple designs, are on sale already, while the CandyShell ($34.95) is due to hit soon.

I got my hands on an early sample of the CandyShell and it offers Speck's typically eye-catching glossy finish and a slim, snug fit. I like it, but at $… Read more

T-Mobile selling 16GB Samsung Galaxy S3 for $279 after rebate

T-Mobile users hankering for Samsung's Galaxy S3 will have to pay more than their counterparts on AT&T and Sprint.

The latest Galaxy S smartphone is now up for sale at T-Mobile's Web site but carries a price tag of $279.99 for the 16GB model, even after a $50 rebate. The 32GB flavor is selling for $329.99 after the rebate. Those prices include the standard two-year contract.

But T-Mobile's prices tip the scales compared with those at fellow Galaxy S3 carriers AT&T and Sprint. AT&T is selling the 16GB version … Read more

Foxconn CEO talks up iPhone 5, puts down Galaxy S III

Foxconn CEO Terry Gou isn't shy about talking about the next iPhone, crowing about its virtues at the company's annual shareholder's meeting, according to a report.

Consumers should wait for the iPhone 5 because it will put the Samsung "Galaxy S III to shame," Focus Taiwan reported him as saying this week, citing the Tuesday edition of the China Times.

It's probably safe to say Gou didn't get the green light from Apple headquarters to chat up the next iPhone. Luckily for Apple, he didn't go into any detail about why it … Read more

A closer look at the Samsung Galaxy S III's sharing features

The Samsung Galaxy S III comes with a huge number of new features. Packed with services like S Voice and S Beam, the guys over at Samsung made sure its most recent flagship phone will keep users interested for a long time. (We should know, they sent us a 50-page print-out guide for us detailing everything).

One of its most interesting set of features is its four sharing services: AllShare Play, Group Cast, Share Shot, and Buddy Photo Share. Together, they allow you to distribute and view media content across different platforms. Here, I'll take a deeper dive into … Read more

Upgrade to Windows Phone 8? Not so fast.

It's a phone-tastic episode today:

Microsoft's new Windows Phone 8 operating system will be in new Windows Phones this fall, but existing Windows users won't be able to get the full upgrade. That's because the Windows Phone 8 OS requires better hardware, like multicore processors and NFC support. The next OS will also have more enterprise-friendly features and Nokia's maps. (Maps are becoming a new battle ground in mobile phones.) However, current Windows Phone users aren't completely ignored. There's a slight upgrade coming that gives the live tiles in the home screen new … Read more

Samsung's S Beam teaches Android a new trick

In opening up its Android operating system, Google ensured one thing: that handset-makers would have the room they needed to dress up Google's little green OS however they please.

With S Beam on the Samsung Galaxy S III, Samsung took a good feature, Android Beam, and made it great.… Read more

Samsung Galaxy S III review: The phone that would be king

Samsung's goal for the Samsung Galaxy S III is clear: set in more hands around the world than any other phone.

The electronics giant knows you can't do that without a favorable price tag and handsets on almost every carrier. More importantly, Samsung understands that it can only reach great heights with a smartphone worthy of the hype.

High-flying specs like Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 4G LTE speeds, and a sharp-shooting 8-megapixel camera push the Galaxy S III much of the way up the hill. Its large HD screen and friendly design give it another boost; … Read more

Samsung Galaxy S III camera versus HTC One X, iPhone 4S

The Samsung Galaxy S III (S3) and its 8-megapixel camera is coming out soon on five U.S. carriers, and you know what that means. That's right, boys and girls, it's time for another photo shoot-out! This time, the S3 takes on the HTC One X, and iPhone 4S for a test of the best.

This shootout is all about the basics: how well the cameras did in various outdoor and indoor situations, and without any fancy modes, filters, or effects. All photos were shot on automatic mode, from the same position, and focusing on the same object. I have resized and cropped the pictures, but left them otherwise untouched. I placed the S3 shots in the center of each trio to make it easier to compare to the camera shots above and below.… Read more