• CNET
  • All Android posts

Android

Former top Apple fanboy now rocks all Android devices

We already know Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak uses both iOS and Android devices, but this week we learned that the former evangelist who helped create the original "cult of Mac" has left iOS behind and gone all Android.

It's been decades since Guy Kawasaki preached the gospel of Apple in the '80s, but only about a year since he jumped ship as an iPhone owner for an Android phone with 4G LTE -- the Droid Razr Maxx. Kawasaki was quoted in ReadWrite saying he no longer uses any Apple mobile products:

"I fell in love with Android on the smartphone, and then I got a Nexus 7 and started using Android on the tablet as well... To me the great irony is that Apple's slogan was 'Think Different,' but today if you think different you're looking at Android."… Read more

RIP e-book readers? Rise of tablets drives e-reader drop

The rapid rise of tablets is driving the e-book reader market to an equally rapid fall, according to a new study.

IHS iSuppli said that after "spectacular" growth during the past few years, the e-book reader market is now on an "alarmingly precipitous decline," all thanks to the growing popularity of tablets.

How alarming? Well, the firm predicts that shipments of e-book readers will tumble 36 percent this year to 14.9 million units and then drop another "drastic" 27 percent next year to 10.9 million units. By 2016, IHS iSuppli predicts, the … Read more

Google's Schmidt: Android is 'winning that war' with Apple

Google Chairman Eric Schmidt believes that Android's war with iOS is just about over -- and that his team won.

Speaking to Bloomberg in an interview published this morning, Schmidt said Android's ongoing market-share battle with Apple's iOS "is of the scale of 20 years ago -- Microsoft versus Apple." He went on to say that in his opinion, "we're winning that war pretty clearly now."

It might be difficult to argue with Schmidt's point. Research firm IDC reported last month that during the third quarter, Android shipments accounted for 75 percent of the worldwide market. … Read more

Hulu Plus for Android rolls out children's section

Watching "SpongeBob SquarePants" and "Caillou" on Android devices just got a little easier today.

Hulu Plus announced that it updated its Android app with Hulu Kids integration. With this new feature, parents are able to make sure their children don't stray from their kid's shows by using a "Lock For Kids" button. Parents can also search Hulu Kids to find popular shows from different networks and age groups.

Hulu Kids launched in November featuring dozens of children's TV shows from Nickelodeon, PBS, Lionsgate, and more. The kid's feature has its … Read more

ZTE to unveil high-end smartphone at CES 2013

According to IDG News Service, ZTE's global chief design director, Hagen Fendler, said that the Chinese phone company will announce a new high-end handset in January during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Though ZTE is known for its low- to midlevel devices, Fendler said that CES will mark a new "design era" for the manufacturer.

Recent ZTE handsets, like the ZTE Warp Sequent and the Sprint Flash, have shown a deliberate change in direction for ZTE, toward better-quality devices. The former has a sturdy construction and a 4.3-inch touch screen, while the latter is … Read more

Verizon sells Samsung Galaxy Camera on December 13 for $550

How badly do you want an Android-powered camera that connects to Verizon's network? If the answer is "very," then starting December 13, you'll be able to fork out $550 for the Samsung Galaxy Camera over on Big Red.

Coming in $50 pricier than AT&T's version, Verizon's stab at the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean device offers 4G LTE connectivity, and comes in an exclusive cobalt black shade in addition to white.

Adding the camera to your shared data plan costs just $5 per month, Verizon's least expensive access fee of the … Read more

Yahoo Mail revamp aims for speed, simplicity

Yahoo Mail just got a facelift.

The longstanding e-mail service underwent a revamp to focus on faster access to e-mail, fewer distractions, and an easier-to-use interface. Yahoo also worked to keep the look consistent throughout a variety of platforms, whether it's on the Internet, Windows 8, iPhone, or Android. The changes were announced today by CEO Marissa Mayer on Yahoo's blog.

Regardless of Yahoo's broader struggles, its e-mail service remains a popular one and a default address for many individuals. As a result, it continues to be a crucial element to sustaining traffic.

"Since it's … Read more

Quad-core smartphone shootout

Until now, smartphones with quad-core processors used to be just a twinkle in the eye of wistful Android addicts and gadget gurus. Either that or they remained exotic pieces of futuristic hardware reserved for foreigners. Quad-core handsets are now starting to arrive in force. The question is: which device packs the biggest CPU wallop? This chart lays it all out with deeper analysis below.

Phone HTC One X+ LG Nexus 4 LG Optimus G HTC Droid DNA Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Processor 1.7GHz quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon … Read more