Ad: Manage updates with the Download App

Mobile

Making sense of Google's high Galaxy S4 price tag

On Tuesday, when Google's Vice President of Android Product Management Hugo Barra told a crowd of nearly 6,000 attendees that the online giant would be releasing its own variant of the critically-acclaimed Samsung Galaxy S4, many broke out in applause.

Not only would the top-tier device sport all the same desirable specs the GS4 was already known for (like the quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor and Android 4.2 OS), it would also give Android purists/TouchWiz haters, an unsullied Nexus software experience.

Yes, there was clapping all around (and even a "woot!" or two) until Barra … Read more

Forced to live with BB10, and kind of liking it

ORLANDO, Fla -- Irony may be funny to the gods of Olympus, but it's a cruel lesson for us mortals. I found this out the hard way at BlackBerry Live 2013. Within minutes of arriving at my hotel I managed to misplace my lovely HTC One test unit. As a result, my backup BlackBerry Z10 was suddenly promoted to first-string smartphone duty. … Read more

Apple orders hint at iPad Mini shipment decline

Apple's iPad Mini could be entering a rough few months, according to the latest information the sometimes-spotty DigiTimes.

The blog on Friday reported that AU Optronics, the company that supplies panels for Apple's iPad Mini, will only ship 2.5 million to 2.8 million units to manufacturers in the second calendar quarter, down from the 4 million it shipped in the first quarter.

According to DigiTimes, which is citing "supply chain sources" who claim to have knowledge of the drawdown, Apple cut orders in anticipation of a slowdown in iPad Mini shipments for the rest … Read more

Samsung: Galaxy S4 sales to hit 10 million next week

Samsung's Galaxy S4 is on pace to easily surpass its predecessor's sales record, Samsung Electronics co-CEO Shin Jong-kyun said Thursday in an interview.

Speaking to the Korea Times, the co-CEO said that Samsung's Galaxy S4 will sell through 10 million units next week, making it the fastest-selling smartphone in the company's history. Shin told the Korea Times that the Galaxy S3 took 50 days to pass the 10 million sales mark. The Galaxy S4 will hit that level less than a month since its launch.

The Galaxy S4 is the most feature-packed smartphone Samsung has launched … Read more

Android to assimilate Bluetooth Smart technology

One of the many announcements flooding out of Google I/O that may have gotten lost in the shuffle is Android's expected support for Bluetooth Smart technology.

This may seem like an odd development, especially if you know that many Android devices already feature Bluetooth 4.0, the version in which Bluetooth Smart (that is, Bluetooth Low Energy) first appeared. What's new here, though, is that the fresh flavor of Android, expected to hit in the next few months, will natively integrate all of Bluetooth 4.0's fancy tricks, including BLE, or BT Smart. Previous Android iterations … Read more

Drool-worthy white Nexus 4 may hit Google Play June 10

Though the white version of the LG Nexus 4 began floating around the Interwebs as early as January, it may officially hit the Google Play Store starting June 10.

According to Android and Me, which reportedly got hold of the elusive device, the white Nexus 4 may even launch with Android 4.3, as well.

On Monday, CNET Asia reported that the white device appeared on a Google+ user site and speculated that it could make an appearance at this week's Google I/O.

Unfortunately, as we all saw in yesterday's keynote, no news of a white Nexus … Read more

Flip phones to flip for (roundup)

Don't get me wrong, I still love my smartphones as much as any modern 21st-century kid. But there's something about whipping out a flip phone and then snapping it closed that is very gratifying and nostalgic. And while many phone manufacturers pump out high-tech handsets every season, it's nice to see that once in a while, a simple flip phone still makes it through the pipeline.

Not only do these handsets have the best call quality (and really, isn't that what phones are made for?), but they also are extremely simple to use and can withstand a good knock or two. Below, we've gathered our recent favorites.… Read more

Microsoft to Google: We'll bring ads to YouTube app

Google and Microsoft are in the middle of a scuffle over the updated YouTube app in Windows Phone, but the software giant is apparently willing to compromise.

Earlier this week, Google sent a cease-and-desist letter to Microsoft, saying that it must remove the YouTube application from the Windows Phone marketplace. That app, which Microsoft updated to make it look like those on other mobile platforms, was criticized by Google for allegedly violating its terms of service. The company specifically took aim at Microsoft over the application's lack of ad support.

In a statement to CNET sister site ZDNet on Wednesday, … Read more