DisplayMate: Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 features an excellent top tier display
One of the key elements of a great mobile device is a top performing display and according to the experts over at DisplayMate, the Surface Pro 3 is worthy of such honor.
Facebook's Slingshot updated, now lets you react to reactions
Over a month after Facebook launched Slingshot, a Snapchat-like ephemeral photo and video sharing app, the company yesterday released an update (iOS and Android) that brings the ability to react to reactions, and more.
Qi wireless charging will soon work over greater distances
The Qi standard created by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) is quickly becoming the main standard for wireless charging, with more and more devices packing Qi chargers into their bodies. Normally you'd have to place a Qi-compatible device directly in…
Neowin: The lay(wo)man's review of the Surface Pro 3
Reviewing gadgets is a lot of fun but it can be an overwhelming experience, too. The amount of time that goes into using a product and then thinking through all the use-cases and trying to simulate (or at least try to empathize…
French company Iliad enters battle for T-Mobile US with $15 billion offer
Seizing an opening in Sprint and T-Mobile US's failure to announce a deal yet, French telecom operator Iliad has announced its interest in acquiring a controlling stake in the latter company, offering $15 billion in cash for 56.6% of the fourth-largest…
Nokia agrees to acquire part of Panasonic's wireless network business
In an effort to boost its operations in Japan, Nokia today announced that it has agreed to acquire part of the Panasonic's wireless networks business. The deal, whose financial details were not disclosed, covers Panasonic's mobile phone (LTE/3G) wireless base…
Samsung executive says two new high-end handsets coming soon
Samsung on Thursday looked to offer customers and shareholders a bit of reassurance by announcing intentions to launch two new high-end smartphones within the next six months. The news comes as Samsung's reported a quarterly drop in profit compared to the…
Facebook-backed Internet.org to bring free, limited Internet to Zambia
In an effort to boost Internet usage in underdeveloped countries, Facebook yesterday said that it will provide free, but limited, Internet data access to mobile phone subscribers in the African nation of Zambia.
BlackBerry acquires Secusmart to ramp up its security offerings
In an effort to further improve its voice and data security, Blackberry announced that that it will acquire Secusmart, a Dusseldorf, Germany-based company that specializes in encryption and anti-eavesdropping services. Financial details were not disclosed and the deal is still pending regulatory…
Virgin Mobile's new smartphone plan lets you customize it any way you like
We've seen a huge shift in the wireless landscape over the past year or so thanks largely to T-Mobile but it's a new plan, or lack of, from Virgin Mobile USA that may ultimately reshape how we think about wireless…
Instagram unveils Snapchat competitor Bolt in select markets outside the US
Instagram yesterday unveiled a new messaging app that allows users to send short-lived photo and video messages from their mobile devices. Dubbed Bolt, the app's premise is similar to that of Snapchat or Slingshot.
Microsoft launches Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 with minor upgrades
Microsoft has today launched the first update to Windows Phone 8.1, known as GDR1 or simply 'Update 1', with users in the Preview for Developers program set to get the update over-the-air some time this week.
A Windows Phone-powered HTC One M8 may hit Verizon in Q3
The last we heard of a new flagship Windows Phone from HTC was way back in March, just shortly after the launch of their Android flagship, the HTC One (M8). The rumor mill has been relatively quiet about the upcoming…
Facebook chat will shortly disappear from mobile app
Facebook intends to kill messaging from its main mobile application in the coming days, following through with the plans it laid out several months ago. If you want to continue chatting through Facebook, you'll need to download the company's standalone…
Explained: A Guide to Smartphone Camera Hardware
For many people smartphone cameras have replaced standalone point-and-shoots as the go-to device for everyday photography, as they're easier to access and more compact to carry with you. But just what goes in to making a good smartphone camera? What hardware do companies use? What do pixel sizes and f-stops really mean? In this article I'll be exploring the hardware, key terms associated with photography, and some comparisons along the way.
This external battery pack needs just 15 minutes to soak up enough juice to recharge your dead phone
Earlier today we wrote about advancements in battery technology that have the potential to keep smartphones and other mobile devices running up to three times longer. It's a significant step forward but as we outlined, there's still more experimentation to…
Amazon may be going into mobile payments with Square-like credit card reader
Amazon quietly launched a digital wallet app earlier this month for storing gift cards, membership and loyalty cards. But new reports suggest the company’s ambitions extend beyond this initial step to actually rivaling the likes of Square, PayPal, Intuit and…
Google, Motorola may be working on a 5.9-inch smartphone code named 'Shamu'
The fate of Google's Nexus program has been up in the air now for quite a while. Rumors have circulated in recent months that the program could be canned in favor of the upcoming Android Silver initiative. But during Google…
Phone unlocking to become legal in the United States again
Back in 2012, the United States Copyright Office effectively outlawed the unlocking of cellphones, making it very difficult for someone to use their phone on a carrier other than the one it was purchased for.
Verizon is preparing to throttle 4G LTE unlimited data users
Starting October 1, Verizon customers on unlimited data plans that meet certain criteria will see their 4G LTE wireless connection throttled as part of what the carrier calls "Network Optimization," a practice that previously only affected 3G connections.
iFixit teardown reveals Amazon Fire Phone not designed for easy DIY repairs
The Amazon's new Fire Phone is not DIY friendly. Or so say the folks at iFixit, who published a teardown on the new smartphone yesterday, giving it a ranking of 3 out of 10 for repairability, with 10 being the…
Google buys 3D graphics startup drawElements for north of $10M
In an effort to boost its mobile 3D graphics capabilities, Google has acquired 3D graphics firm drawElements. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Arcticstartup is reporting that the sale price was over $10 million.
Motorola wants you to unlock your Moto X with this digital tattoo
Unlocking a smartphone can be a drag, especially if you're the type that checks your handset dozens of times a day. It's a first world problem that has led many to simply leave their phones unprotected (obviously not a wise…
Google's colorful new Play Store update is rolling out as we speak
Waiting around to check out the new look of the Play Store ever since Google announced it was due for a facelift? Well, you can head over to the storefront to check out if you've made it to an early batch, as…
Microsoft all but confirms it shelved the Surface Mini
Even before the Surface Pro 2 was released, rumors suggested Microsoft was working on a Mini version of its Windows tablet. Such talk spilled over into 2014 and by mid-year, we were certain we'd see the smaller slate show up on…