Mobile payment misstep: CVS and RiteAid disable NFC, Apple Pay, Google Wallet
Companies disabling their existing NFC retail terminals just to blunt momentum from Apple Pay or Google Wallet are being shortsighted and are creating a situation that could very well backfire on…
View ArticleHands on with the Nexus 6: A Nexus phone Google hopes is one for the masses
My first look at the Nexus 6 smartphone shows what could be the first "no compromise" Nexus handset. And that's good for Google and Android since major U.S. carriers will be…
View ArticleJohn Chen on the BlackBerry Classic: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”
Appealing to its faithful customer base, BlackBerry is building buzz for the upcoming BlackBerry Classic; a QWERTY-based handset with 3.5-inch square touch display that should appeal to long-time...
View ArticleCaught between China and low-cost phones, Samsung’s mobile profits plunge
Growing the Galaxy line over the past five years has helped Samsung become the top-selling smartphone maker in the world, but there's more to the global market than expensive flagship phones…
View ArticleTask-master app Any.do goes premium with collaboration features
One of the best task management apps for individuals is now adding support for families and teams to work together. Any.do 2.0 adds a Premium subscription option with collaboration tools, themes…
View ArticleWhy Android app makers are going to love users saying “OK Google”
One of the arguably best features of Android is getting friendly with third-party apps. Simply by adding a few lines of code, Android apps can take advantage of the "OK Google"…
View ArticleHow important is cross-platform support to the Microsoft Band?
It's not really surprising that Microsoft's Band smartwatch will work with Android and iOS as well as Windows Phone as we heard rumors suggesting it would. It's a bigger deal than…
View ArticleFirst look at the Microsoft Band: A health tracker on steroids
Microsoft's newest device is meant to keep you healthy and productive. I bought one last night and see great promise with a few future improvements. My first impression? Great for health…
View ArticleGoogle is working on “copresence,” which might let Chrome, Android and iOS...
It's not clear what "copresence" is just yet but it's clear that Google is working on it. References to the project were reportedly found in the latest Google Play Services software…
View ArticleThis week in mobile: Nexus 6 hands on; Droid Turbo arrives; Microsoft Band...
This week, I took a look at the Nexus 6 smartphone and started wearing a Microsoft Band, which works with the Android phone as well as iPhones and Windows Phone handsets…
View ArticleEarly build of Gmail 5.0 adds Yahoo, Outlook, AOL and Exchange mail support
An early software build of Gmail 5.0 is unofficially available, confirming that support for IMAP, POP and Exchange mail accounts for the Android client.
View ArticleHTC’s new charger fills up your HTC One M8 battery 40% faster
The Qualcomm chipset inside HTC's newest handsets supports quick charging and HTC plans to take advantage of that with a 15 Watt accessory. It might have helped HTC One M8 sales…
View ArticleSet to battle the iPad Air, Google’s Nexus 9 is now available for purchase
Announced in a blog post last month, Google's Nexus 9 tablet can now be purchased on the Play Store with shipping in one to two business days. Expect to pay $399 for a…
View ArticleBuy a Lumia 830 from AT&T, get a Fitbit Flex that works with Cortana for free
Microsoft's "affordable flagship" lands on AT&T later this week and the carrier will throw in a Fitbit Flex activity tracker for free; handy since you can tell Cortana what exercise you…
View ArticleThat round LG G Watch will cost $299; $50 more than the circular Moto 360
We finally have the cost of the round LG G Watch R: $299 when it goes on sale this Thursday. AT&T will offer it alongside the $249 Moto 360; another round…
View ArticleReview: Sony Xperia Z3v is a solid contender for Verizon customers
Sure, the Sony Experia Z3v uses a slightly older processor compared to newer flagship phones but it's waterproof, has a great 5.2-inch display, supports high-resolution audio feedback, runs for two days…
View ArticleNow Windows Phone has a digital wallet that works where Apple Pay does
It took a while for the U.S. carriers to roll out their Softcard mobile payments and even longer for the digital wallet to work with Windows Phone. With the right handset…
View ArticleIs your Android phone getting Lollipop? Here’s the list of update plans for...
Now that Android 5.0 is officially available on the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9, Google's hardware partners are starting to get the code and prepare software updates. When will your device…
View ArticleHTC offers half-price Nexus 9: $199 for the 16 GB model in limited quantities
If our review of the Nexus 9 tablet got you to break out your wallet, you'll want to run, not walk, to a special HTC site offering the device for 50…
View ArticleChrome Show: What we know about Google’s copresence so far
On this week's Chrome Show podcast we take a deeper dive into an in-progress Google effort called copresence. What is it, how will we use it and what devices will be…
View Article