Android software

Norton Mobile Security has taken the unusual step today of merging its mobile licensing so that you pay once and can use the mobile security suite on either Android or iOS. It's an effort to make Norton's security more accessible, and parent company Symantec wants to turn Norton accessibility into a security service.

The change isn't drastic, said Con Mallon, senior director of Norton mobile product management, but natural. "The new Norton Mobile Security is both a Web service and a mobile service," he said in a phone interview with CNET. "We're going … Read more

OK, so you you can't remotely drive a BMW with a phone like James Bond does in "Tomorrow Never Dies," but there are plenty of real apps that will let you take control of your car and its tech with little more than your smartphone and a data connection. From beaming destinations to your Toyota's navigation system with Entune to remotely unlocking your doors with GM's OnStar RemoteLink, we've rounded up a few of the best car-controlling apps. … Read more

The holidays are fully under way, which means that shopping is at top of mind for many. In years past, this might have meant thumbing through the weekly circulars and braving the inevitable shopping mall stampedes, but these days, online retailers and deal-hunting mobile apps are changing the game.

For Android users, here are three of our favorite shopping apps, all of which can help you get a heads up on the best deals, not only online, but also in your area. Try them out for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments below.

Editors' note: … Read more

Last week we began to see the first hints of Google's first foray into so-called "alternate reality gaming," in which cryptic clues are strewn about the on- and offline worlds for the perusal of highly engaged fans. "What is the Niantic Project?" asked a teaser video. As of today, we know the answer: the Niantic Project is a game called Ingress.

As described in a teaser video, Ingress describes a world in which two shadowy sides are vying for dominance: the Enlightened, who are trying to establish portals around the world that will let them … Read more

Better mobile support and more desktop options give SkyDrive users a bit of a boost today, as Microsoft updates its cloud storage service.

The desktop improvements include the ability to share SkyDrive files with one click from Windows 8's File Explorer (also known as Windows Explorer in previous versions of Windows,) and selectively sync folders from a Windows or Mac. This can help keep small-drive devices from filing up too quickly.

Android and Windows Phone apps have been updated, too, so that you can now more easily browse files in your SkyDrive. You'll also be able to control … Read more

If you're a Samsung Galaxy S3 owner, your long, patient wait for an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update will soon end.

Starting today, T-Mobile will begin pushing Android 4.1.1 over the air and through the Samsung Kies app.

If you run into trouble, T-Mobile provides documentation to help you through the process.

Among other changes, Android Jelly Bean offer richer notifications, an improved Search app that also includes Google Now, and much more powerful Android Beam functionality.

When you get it, tell us how you like the update! Chime in below.

Motorola has officially outlined the details for its Trade Up Program which gives previous buyers a $100 credit for select smartphones. The initiative, first announced in September, is designed to keep consumers from switching handset makers over the lack of Android updates.… Read more

Just two weeks after it introduced the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Sprint has begun issuing a software update for the king-size smartphone. A posting on the carrier's forum indicates that the update features a number of minor changes affecting various aspects of the user experience.

Most notable among the changes is Multi Window View, a feature that lets the user run and view two applications at the same time. Considering how much real estate the Galaxy Note II provides, this will likely be an oft-used and welcome addition for many.

Other details found in the change log include GPS … Read more

Video game designer Peter Molyneux has a proven track record of successful games (Fable and Black and White are the biggies) and a style unique enough to inspire a hilarious parody account on Twitter. Molyneux was recently the head of Microsoft's gaming division, but left the company earlier this year to form his own game shop, 22Cans. Yesterday, 22Cans released its first game (or "experiment") for iOS and Android: Curiosity, a massively multiplayer puzzler that promises a "life-changingly amazing" secret to the one (and only one) gamer who can make it to the middle of … Read more