mobile

LG phone to sport always-on voice commands in 2014 -- report

LG is hard at work on a new smartphone that will allow for always-on voice commands, a new report claims.

The handset, which will launch in 2014, will allow users to speak commands without needing to touch the screen first, Gotta Be Mobile is reporting on Tuesday, citing three people who claim to have knowledge of LG's plans.The technology will also allow for a broader range of commands than those available now.

Although Gotta Be Mobile cites LG's plans, it's highly likely that it won't be alone in launching a device next year that features … Read more

Sony Xperia Z makes its way to T-Mobile

T-Mobile confirmed on Tuesday that it would be getting the Sony Xperia Z in the coming weeks.

The company didn't include a price, but like all other T-Mobile phones, the Xperia Z will be eligible for a low down payment and monthly installments under T-Mobile's Simple Choice plan. The Xperia Z will be exclusive to T-Mobile.

For Sony, getting the Xperia Z on another big carrier is a step in the right direction. The company has been steadily improving its product lineup and getting more U.S. support for its devices in the last several months. It previously … Read more

HTC finally shows off 3.5-inch Desire 200

HTC has unveiled the long-rumored Desire 200.

The device, which is designed for customers on a budget, comes with a 3.5-inch display and runs on 3G networks. The inside is similarly budget-friendly, boasting a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 processor and 4GB of onboard memory. The device has just 512MB of memory.

Rumors had been swirling for some time that HTC would launch an update to its Desire line. As expected, the device features rounded corners, a simple black finish, and Beats audio. Users can also monitor their data usage on the device.

HTC has yet to announce pricing and … Read more

LG Optimus G Pro hits 1 million unit sales in Korea

LG's Optimus G Pro has reached 1 million unit sales a few months before its predecessor, the company announced on Tuesday.

LG posted the news to its Web site (Translate), saying that it has sold 1 million units in Korea. The device hit the Korean market in February, meaning it took about four months for the Optimus G Pro to reach that point. The LG Optimus LTE, which came before the G Pro, reached 1 million units sold in seven months.

Interestingly, LG didn't mention Optimus G Pro sales elsewhere around the world, and it's not known … Read more

Questions persist about NSA surveillance

CNET Update wants answers:

In this episode of Update:

- Get up to speed on the latest developments in the NSA spying flap and how it extends to contents of U.S. phone calls. Apple, Microsoft and Facebook are only able to disclose limited details on government requests for customer data.

- Speed things up on MetroPCS with new phones that work on T-Mobile's 4G network.

- Keep the kids entertained next year with DreamWorks television shows on Netflix.

- Learn how to leave a video message for anyone on Skype.

- Speculate on rumors about Facebook's news announcement on Thursday. … Read more

AT&T's 4G LTE wins award for 'fastest mobile network'

AT&T has been crowned the leading mobile network provider in a new study from PC Magazine.

The news outlet on Monday posted the results of its mobile network research to determine which company -- AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon -- had the fastest speeds in the United States. PC Magazine, which analyzed results across 30 cities, found that AT&T had the top 4G LTE network with average download speeds of 16.7 megabits per second and average upload speeds exceeding 7.4 megabits per second.

Although Verizon and AT&T are considered the … Read more

Verizon Wireless eyes entry into Canada -- report

Verizon Wireless could be making its way to Canada, a new report claims.

The U.S.-based carrier is considering a plan that would see it acquire a smaller carrier in Canada and then compete to buy wireless spectrum that Canada is auctioning off this year, The Globe and Mail is reporting on Monday, citing people who claim to have knowledge of its plans. If Verizon's plan works out, the company would establish itself among the top four carriers in the country.

Canada's wireless regulation has been notoriously tight, limiting foreign company involvement. However, the country last year … Read more

Facebook to unveil Instagram video on June 20, report says

Facebook and Instagram might have a new feature up their sleeves.

At its special press event on June 20, Facebook will unveil video support for Instagram, TechCrunch is reporting, citing a person who claims to have knowledge of its plans. Similar to Twitter's Vine, which allows users to post 6-second videos, Instagram's videos would be limited to 5 to 10 seconds.

Vine has been growing rapidly, as users have found it to be a worthwhile alternative to tweeting or sharing pictures. Users are able to record several seconds of video, and then share it with friends. Vine videos … Read more

Samsung to launch Galaxy S4 Advanced with faster LTE

Samsung is ready to launch a new Galaxy S4 that will be capable of connecting to the Internet through the LTE-Advanced 4G technology.

Speaking to Reuters in an interview published Monday, Samsung Electronics CEO J.K. Shin said that his company will launch a Galaxy S4 Advanced device designed to connect to the next generation of 4G LTE networks, dubbed LTE-Advanced. According to Shin, while a movie download might take three minutes on a current LTE connection, it would take a little over one minute on LTE-Advanced.

The Galaxy S4 Advanced's chip will be made by Qualcomm, Shin told … Read more

Don't kill the messenger, but here's why you should skip the LG Envoy II

You wouldn't expect high-end features in a simple phone, and you're not going to get them with the Envoy II. Not only is the low-resolution screen hard to look at from certain angles, you also won't get video recording, a flash, or any expandable memory.

True, like its predecessor, this handset is geared toward people who are mostly interested in making calls. But given that, call quality should have been better than it was.

Frankly, for a prepaid price of $49.99 and a contract price of $69.99, I'd want something more. Fortunately for U.… Read more