Amazon raised the curtain on its Instant Video App for iPhone and iPod touch devices, which join the iPad and iPad mini for video purchase or rental playback. You’ll still have to buy or rent videos through the web, however; it can’t be done in app. Read more »
Research In Motion is pinning its hopes on new smartphones using a much improved platform, but the company isn’t showing off the final product until next month. A video surfaced today one of the reported new phones, giving a potential glimpse of RIM’s future. Read more »
Acer just joined the Chromebook market a month ago, but already has a follow up model that addresses some shortcomings. A new $299 Chromebook doubles RAM and battery life but strangely ups the hard drive storage to 500 GB as well. Does a Chromebook need that? Read more »
After looking at the OCDock’s design, it’s precisely the type of iPhone dock I’d expect Apple to engineer. A patent-pending custom USB cable that’s paper thin aids in the minimalistic look without sacrificing any features. This Kickstarter is funded, but you can still buy in. Read more »
It’s hard to tell if Microsoft’s Surface RT is a sales hit, but according to the company, retailer interest is high. As a result, Microsoft is expanding production and will be allowing third-party retail stores to carry the device earlier than it planned. Read more »
Samsung’s Galaxy Camera with Android 4.1 debuts in Verizon’s online store on Dec. 13. If you want a 16 megapixel sensor, 21x optical zoom and integrated LTE radio, this is the camera for you. But beyond the $549 price tag, expect to pay $5 monthly.. Read more »
First smartphones overtook traditional computer sales and now tablets are on track to outsell laptops, according to IDC, which predicts more tablets will be sold than laptops by 2015. Computer makers should be looking to where the growth is as tablets replace laptops for many. Read more »
I tested both of Zagg’s iPad mini keyboard cases and either is a nice accessory. There’s a difference in typing, however, due to the two sizes. That means you’ll have to figure out if you value portability or a better typing experience when choosing. Read more »
Samsung continues to push the bounds of its software that sits atop Google Android. Seven more features are part of the Premium Suite of software for the Galaxy S III. These improvements are helping Samsung stand out from the pack in the smartphone space. Read more »
Just one month after announcing free voice calls over Wi-Fi in BlackBerry Messenger, Research In Motion delivers the feature to all handsets running BB 6 OS or better. A video demo shows the added functionality, which could save money for some, easy to use. Read more »
After a few weeks of use, Matt’s Surface RT has replaced an iPad for most purposes. But what bought the Surface Pro: a compelling package or a let down? Hear about portable speakers from both hosts and learn more about the very connected Chevy Volt. Read more »
Snapseed, the hottest photo editing iOS app, arrived on Android this week; the free download is a must-try. Galaxy S III owners are about to get the ability to run two apps on one screen while the Samsung Muse MP3 player has a unique feature. Read more »
Most MP3 players share a common denominator: Unless they have a Wi-Fi radio, you have to connect them to a computer to get your music on them. Not so with the Samsung Muse a $50 pebble-shaped device that syncs music from a smartphone. Read more »
Smartphones continue to enhance our lives, but all of the great apps, features and social connections can add stress. Is it time to cut back on smartphone usage or maybe we need smarter smartphones that route only the most important information to us. Read more »
Samsung’s best selling Galaxy S III is about to get even better based on what the Premium Suite software suite will bring. The multi-window feature I like on my Galaxy Note 2 is in there as are several other useful functions as shown in this video. Read more »
Can a wireless keyboard with hinges turn your iPad into a laptop running iOS? That’s the premise behind Brydge, a Kickstarter project that I backed months ago. I opted to add Bluetooth speakers to my Brydge; take a look at how this setup works. Read more »
Now that Amazon has its own devices in the Kindle Fire lineup, downloads from the Appstore are on the rise: up 500% in the past year. It doesn’t hurt that Amazon has added a number of developer-friendly features over the past 20 months, either. Read more »
Apple’s iPad app of the year in 2011 lands on Android in 2012 and if you take pictures with your Android smartphone or tablet, you’re going to want it. Snapseed uses a slick touch interface for photo edits and also integrates with Google+ for picture sharing. Read more »
The larger a smartphone screen is, the harder it becomes to use one-handed. Keyboard application Tyype for Android helps solve this problem because it adds a useful trackpad to the on-screen keyboard. However, it still needs to add more features for me to switch. Read more »
Once relegated to early adopters, smart watches are slowly filtering their way into the view of mainstream shoppers. Case in point: Casio’s new GShock connects to an iPhone for call or email notifications and can be found at Macy’s, Bloomingdales and Nordstrom for $180. Read more »
Nokia is hitting both the high- and low-end markets with two new handsets. The Lumia 620 is $249 before subsidies and are smartly aimed at new smartphone owners. The full-featured Lumia 920T comes to China Mobile, the largest operator in world, which has no iPhone. Read more »
Gmail for Android gains some great enhancements that everyone will likely want, but only devices running Android 4.0 or better can get right now. Pinch to zoom in email, swipe to archive and fit to screen are some of the more impressive features. Read more »
Verizon’s VCast video service was innovative when it launched in 2005, but the web has changed channels. Now we have YouTube, Netflix, Hulu and other video services that work on multiple devices, platforms and networks. At least football fans still get NFL Mobile on Verizon. Read more »
If your doctor asks you to touch his or her iPhone at your next phyiscal, don’t be alarmed. It’s likely they have an AliveCor iPhone case; the device measures pulse through two fingers and can provide a detailed electro-cardiogram when held to your chest. Read more »
The week started with a nifty wireless NFC experiment but not ever Android phone has NFC. Free software accomplishes the same task of toggling Wi-Fi based on location. The Nexus 7 dock makes an appearance as does Xbox SmartGlass for Google’s 7-inch Nexus tablet. Read more »
The “always new computer” is new yet again: Google is releasing Chrome OS updates for all Chromebooks and users should see the software hit in the next few days. User interface improvements are in there and some key apps are enabled for offline use by default. Read more »
Looking to get a connected car without buying a new vehicle? A small module with GPS and cellular radio that plugs into your vehicle’s diagnostic port may be the answer. Moj.io is just that and includes 8 useful apps to add smarts to your car. Read more »
Microsoft’s Surface Pro arrives in January with a full-featured version of Windows and an $899 price tag. That costs more than the Windows RT version but adds more app compatibility. It also brings half the run-time even though the battery is 30 percent bigger. Read more »
The wait for details surrounding Microsoft’s Surface Pro tablet is over. On Thursday, the company announced some specs and the starting price of $899 which gets 64 GB of storage for the 10.6-inch tablet and also includes a digital pen. Is the price too high? Read more »
I’m not one to waste battery power on my devices, so I often shut radios off when not in use. Smart WiFi Toggler for Android does this automatically when moving in or out of preferred network range. Best of all: It doesn’t use a GPS radio. Read more »
Looking to add a second screen experience to a single device? Check out popSLATE, a new iPhone 5 case with a 4-inch e-ink display on the back. The Indiegogo project is looking for $150,000 in funding and pledges start at $79 for the innovative case. Read more »
Microsoft has broken its silence on Windows Phone 7.8. In a blog post, the company says the updates should roll out in early 2013. Oddly, it’s working with vendors to release low-cost Windows Phone 7.8 handsets to “strengthen the ecosystem.” That’s a big mistake. Read more »
At long last, Google has added spreadsheet editing features to its Google Drive mobile applications. The updated software is available for both Android and iOS devices. You can’t get too fancy in your spreadsheets just yet, but this is a step in the right direction. Read more »
Do you miss webOS as much as I do? If so and you use Android today, you’ll be happy to see webOS running as an Android app. The project isn’t ready for prime-time use, but it’s making progress. Practical? No. Geeky and nostalgic? You bet! Read more »
At a time where Research In Motion needs all the momentum it can muster, it may lose a little more. Nokia has asked for sales ban on all BlackBerry devices in the U.S. that use Wi-Fi, which is most of them. Read more »
Don’t think that wireless NFC tags are just for mobile payments. You can do practically anything with them if you know how to program them with small bits of data. Some free apps make this easy and I’m already on the NFC bandwagon at home. Read more »
Cumulative Android sales started surpassing that of iPhones in 2010, but as Apple improves its handset, it often gets a sales boost following each model launch. Thanks to iPhone 5, that boost was enough to beat out Android sales in the U.S., but not overseas. Read more »
If you missed out on the first run of Nexus 4 smartphones from Google, you get a second chance on Tuesday, provided you live in the U.S. Google notified potential customers of new stock available, but still needs to improve the direct to consumer buying experience. Read more »
After a year of using 41 solar panels on our home, we generated more excess electricity than expected. So this past weekend, we drove a 2013 Chevy Volt of the lot and our first impressions are pretty positive, both for the technology and the efficiency. Read more »
