Apple has a track record of taking products that work but haven't caught on and redesigning them to give them the appeal that makes them catch fire with the general buying public. Now, there's a new patent that suggests Apple could tackle facial recognition tech next.…
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Two Belkin add-ons for iOS cameras, but only one is hot
Apple's iPhone is no doubt a heavy contributor to the death of point-and-shoots at the hands of smartphones, but it still lacks some niceties of dedicated cameras. New accessories from Belkin, collected under the LiveAction brand, aim to narrow the gap even further.…
Read MoreApple’s App Store tops 5M free downloads per day in November
Apple's App Store is doing well thanks to the successful launch of the iPhone 4S. For the second month in a row, it posted record downloads among the top 200 free apps, with around 5.6 million per day, according to mobile app marketing firm Fiksu.…
Read MoreA look back at mobile predictions for 2011
As 2011 comes to a close, I'm thinking ahead to what mobile technology trends I expect to see in 2012. While I formulate those thoughts for a post later this week, now is a good time to see how I did with my 2011 predictions.…
Read MoreSamsung, you’re doing it wrong with Android 4.0
The Samsung Galaxy S smartphone and Tab slate won't see an upgrade to Android 4.0, leaving owners to decide between buying a newer device, sticking with Android 2.3 or installing a custom build of Google's latest mobile operating system. Here's a suggestion to make everyone happy.…
Read MoreAnalyst: Apple to skip iPad mini in 2012, keep low-cost iPad 2 instead
Apple's plans for a 7-inch iPad are a very hot topic heading into the new year, but they may not bear any tangible fruit for consumers in 2012. A Wedge Partners analyst doesn't think it's in the cards. Instead, Apple might offer a cheaper iPad 2.…
Read MoreMagic Cable Duo review: Durable double-duty dynamo
Cables that do the job of more than one are a noble breed of accessory, and Innergie's Magic Cable Duo cuts down on the need for both multiple cables and external adapters. Here are my impressions of Innergie's versatile mobile charging accessory after a week's use.…
Read MoreApple unlikely to secure Galaxy Tab 10.1N ban in Germany
According to a preliminary assessment from the Dusseldorf regional court in Germany on Thursday, Apple isn't very likely to succeed in its attempts to get the redesigned Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1N tablet barred from sale in that country via injunction.…
Read MoreRecalled iPod nanos getting current generation replacements
Apple issued a recall for its first-generation iPod nano devices back in November. At first, it looked like Apple intended to replace all the recalled units with refurbished equivalent models, but new reports suggest at least some users will be getting current, sixth-generation devices instead.…
Read MoreArchos fights Kindle Fire with $199 Honeycomb tablet
Archos announced on Tuesday an updated 7-inch slate, called the Archos 70b, calling it the first Google Android Honeycomb for under $200. That may not be enough to sway consumers from the $199 Kindle Fire with its custom user interface and broad media ecosystem.…
Read MoreIf Apple retires iPod classic and shuffle, rest of line will shine
Apple is reportedly close to permanently cutting the iPod classic and shuffle from its line of media players. It isn't the first time we've heard that, but now it makes more sense, and it might actually be great news for iPod fans in the long run.…
Read MoreIs an iPhone- and Android-Only World the Best We Can Do?
Reading about the latest Snapdragon-enabled smartphone, I recalled the big splash that Qualcomm made when it announced the platform in 2006. The vision of a world filled with mobile broadband–enabled consumer electronics, ranging from gaming handhelds to portable media players to digital cameras to smartphones, was an enticing one. Three years later, are we there yet? The answer is no.…
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