3-year-old 3GS primed for revival

Apple’s iPhone 3GS was unveiled nearly 3 years ago in June 2009, and some found its familiar styling and modest hardware upgrades to be disappointing. The handset went on to be Apple’s best-selling smartphone until its successor launched the following year, and the iPhone 4 would be Apple’s best-selling iPhone until the iPhone 4S launched...

Leaked part points to taller Retina display on next iPhone

Following a report that Apple is currently testing multiple next-generation iPhone prototypes with a taller Retina display, images of a purported front panel from an unreleased iOS device may provide further evidence that Apple is working on a new iPhone with a larger display. MacRumors on Tuesday published two images of what its unnamed...

Verizon says global capabilities coming to select Android handsets this summer

Verizon Wireless on Monday confirmed that the DROID RAZR, RAZR MAXX, HTC Rezound, and DROID 4 will receive global roaming capabilities later this summer, enabling the handsets to access voice and data services in more than 200 countries, Droid-Life reported. “Customers will see a notification on their device when the software update is...

Google says it has China's approval for Motorola deal

(Reuters) - Google said on Saturday that Chinese authorities have approved its $12.5 billion purchase of Motorola Mobility Holdings, the last regulatory hurdle to a deal that would allow the world's No. 1 Internet search engine to develop its own line of smart phones. Google, which will be the newest entrant to the handset market, announced plans for the acquisition last year in a bid to secure Motorola's valuable patents and...

App scans faces of bar-goers to guess age, gender

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A watchful eye has arrived on San Francisco's bar scene, but not to keep you in check. It just wants to check you out. A new app launched this weekend that will scan the faces of patrons in 25 bars across the city to determine their ages and genders. Would-be customers can then check their smartphones for real-time updates on the crowd size, average age and men-to-women mix to decide whether the scene is to...

Google gets China OK for Motorola deal

NEW YORK (AP) — Authorities in China have approved Google Inc.'s bid to buy phone maker Motorola Mobility, clearing the way for the $12.5 billion deal to close early next week. But Chinese regulators attached a big condition: That Google's Android operating system for mobile devices remain available to all at no cost for the next five years. The approval brings the Internet search giant closer to sealing its biggest acquisition...

Google says it won China's approval for Motorola deal

(Reuters) - Google said on Saturday that Chinese authorities have approved its $12.5 billion purchase of Motorola Mobility Holdings, the last regulatory hurdle to a deal that would allow the world's No. 1 Internet search engine to develop its own line of smart phones. Google, which will be the newest entrant to the handset market, announced plans for the acquisition last year in a bid to secure Motorola's valuable patents and...

A debate: Should you jump in on Facebook debut?

EDITOR'S NOTE — Facebook began selling stock to the public Friday in the most talked-about market debut in years. The stock closed 23 cents above its initial offering price, at $38.23. Two Associated Press business writers debate whether the stock is a smart buy. PRESS THE 'LIKE' BUTTON, SOON By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer SAN FRANCISCO — I doubted Mark Zuckerberg when I met him more than five years ago, shortly after...

HTC Evo 4G LTE delay continues indefinitely

The HTC Evo 4G LTE Android smartphone is being treated like an expatriate fugitive, held at the U.S. border by officials while they investigate whether HTC complied with a court order from December.A note from Best Buy to customers who pre-ordered the HTC Evo 4G LTE reportedly confirmed that they won't be getting the phone any time soon.HTC...

Microsoft: Windows Phone inching past iPhone in China

Microsoft may be treading water when it comes to Windows Phone adoption in the U.S., but the platform has already narrowly eclipsed the iPhone's market share in China, where the battle has only begun.After two years, Microsoft has few victories it can claim for the Windows Phone platform, which recently got a shot in the arm here in the...

How to control a PC with your Android phone

There's something deeply liberating about being able to get one over on those huge, faceless and cold-hearted corporations, and nothing does that better than building your own recordable TV powerhouse in your living room - especially as companies like Virgin Media have announced package price hikes for those customers stuck in a contract....

China Mobile in talks with Apple for iPhone

HONG KONG (Reuters) - China Mobile, the world's biggest telecom carrier by subscribers, said on Wednesday it is negotiating with Apple Inc to carry the popular iPhone in China. China Mobile is the only Chinese operator that does not officially carry the iPhone because its homegrown 3G technology is not supported by the chips used in current...

Apple reportedly slows iPhone orders, increases iPad orders

Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu said in a note to investors on Tuesday that Apple has reduced iPhone orders by between 20% to 25% from the 35.1 million units the company shipped in the March quarter. Wu now expects shipments of between 26 million and 28 million iPhones, lower than the Street’s consensus of between 30 million and 31 million...

Social Network" writer to pen Steve Jobs film script

Sony Pictures Entertainment on Wednesday said that the Academy Award winning screenwriter behind "The Social Network" will write the script for a film about Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Aaron Sorkin will adapt the hot-selling biography by journalist Walter Isaacson for the motion picture screen, according to Sony. "Steve Jobs's story is unique: he was one of the most revolutionary and influential men not just of our time but...

Historic Facebook debut falls flat

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The historic initial public offering of Facebook Inc did not go as planned on Friday, as the social networking company's sky-high valuation combined with trading glitches left the stock languishing near its offering price at the market close. Facebook shares began trading late Friday morning and opened 11 percent...

DVDs and Blu-rays to carry two unskippable government warnings

The FBI Anti-Piracy Warning that is found on all modern DVD and Blu-ray discs is getting an upgrade. The United States government earlier this week announced that it will require two copyright notices on DVD and Blu-ray discs, Ars Technica reported. The first notice will warn potential piracy thieves, while the second one is meant to educate...

Apple readies iPhone with bigger screen: sources

TOKYO (Reuters) - Apple Inc plans to use a larger screen on the next-generation iPhone and has begun to place orders for the new displays from suppliers in South Korea and Japan, people familiar with the situation said on Wednesday. The new iPhone screens will measure 4 inches from corner to corner, one source said. That would represent...

Google+ trends: iPhone rumors, Facebook IPO

Ahead of Apple's WWDC on June 11-15 Google + users are buzzing about rumors that the latest iPhone, the iPhone 5, could feature a 4" or bigger display. Rumors of the iPhone's makeover stem from Apple-focused technology blog iLounge, which also claimed that the new phone will have a ‘glass-bodied' design and a redesigned Dock connector. Rumors...

U.S. says will bar some Motorola Mobility phones

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Some Motorola Mobility smartphones infringe on a Microsoft patent and will be barred from importation to the United States, a U.S. trade panel said on Friday. The order by the U.S. International Trade Commission has been sent to President Barack Obama, who has 60 days to consider whether to overturn it for policy...

Viacom, Time Warner Cable reach iPad views settlement

(Reuters) - Viacom Inc, the parent of MTV and Comedy Central, has settled lawsuits with Time Warner Cable Inc over whether cable subscribers may watch shows on mobile devices such as Apple Inc's iPad. The accord means Viacom programs such as "Jersey Shore," "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and "South Park" will become available over the...

Android and iOS drive mobile app explosion [infographic]

One year ago, less than 40% of mobile subscribers in the United States had a smartphone. That number has increased dramatically, however; according to Nielsen, one in two mobile subscribers now owns a smartphone. Driven mostly by the rise of Android and iOS, which account for more than 80% of the U.S. smartphone market, 2012 has turned into...

Droid Razr Maxx honored with CTIA Wireless E-Tech Award for best smartphone

Motorola’s Droid Razr Maxx smartphone has been named the best smartphone & handset in the Mobile Consumer Electronics category at this year’s CTIA Wireless 2012 E-Tech Awards. The device was first unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2012 and has since become a popular addition to Motorola’s Droid family of Android...

15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display said to be nearing launch

Apple is reportedly preparing to launch a new 15-inch MacBook Pro laptop with a high-resolution Retina display and a new ultra-thin design. Citing anonymous sources within Apple’s supply chain who have supposedly handled parts from the upcoming notebook computer, 9to5Mac claims the new Ivy Bridge-powered MacBook Pro model will launch this...

China Mobile in talks with Apple over iPhone

China Mobile, the world's biggest mobile operator by subscribers, said Wednesday the company is in talks with Apple to offer the popular iPhone to its users in the Asian nation. The company's domestic rivals -- China Unicom and China Telecom -- already offer the iPhone to their subscribers. "Both sides have been making contact with each...

‘iPad mini’ to be ultra-thin thanks to new touch technology

Apple’s much rumored “iPad mini” will reportedly utilize new touch panel technology that allows the device to be thinner than previous models while also managing to cut Apple’s costs, likely a necessity if the company aims to hit the rumored $200-$250 price point. Citing anonymous industry sources, Digitimes on Tuesday reported that the...

Samsung loses $10 billion market value on Apple order report

SEOUL (Reuters) - Shares in Samsung Electronics Co slumped more than 6 percent on Wednesday, wiping $10 billion off the electronics giant's market value, on a report that Apple placed huge chip orders with troubled Japanese chip rival Elpida. Taiwan's DigiTimes, an online trade news site, reported that Apple recently placed large mobile...

GM to drop Facebook ads due to low consumer impact

DETROIT/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - General Motors Co said on Tuesday it will stop advertising on Facebook, even as the social networking website prepares to go public, with a source familiar with the matter saying the automaker had decided Facebook's ads had little impact on consumers. The decision by GM, the third-largest advertiser...