nexus

The best pure Android phones right now

There's something magical about owning a Nexus phone. It's akin to belonging to an elite inner circle or cabal, one that's privy to the most up-to-date software straight from Google's top-secret labs. The benefits of running on pure Android unfettered by carrier bloatware, shady third-party apps, and manufacturer skins go beyond feeling special, though. The biggest is that accessories and apps simply run properly when not tripped up by glitzy yet proprietary add-ons.

Unless you void your warranty and root your handset, then flash it with custom Android builds, however, phones with stock Android are hard … Read more

The HTC One Google Play Edition is an Android die-hard's dream come true

Editors' note: For this review, I focused on how the HTC One Google Play Edition differs from the carrier-branded versions of the handset. For my complete assessment of the HTC One's design, features, and performance, please see the full review.

Though the HTC One is a stellar phone just as it is, I know that many Android purists would prefer that it shipped with Google’s stock OS while forsaking all of the fancy tricks and glitzy software that HTC layered upon it. Fortunately, with the new $599 HTC One Google Play Edition, that day is here.

Using the … Read more

Top 5 must-have Android tablet apps

Even the most die-hard Android fan has to admit that it has taken Android quite a while to catch up to Apple when it comes to quality tablet-optimized apps. You can't blame Google entirely, though. With the dramatic launch of their tablet-only Honeycomb OS, Google tried hard to rally Android developers around building great tablet apps. Why it took developers another year to answer that call for tablet apps is another whole story.

The good news is, Android tablet owners now have a fantastic assortment of apps to choose from. Apps that don't merely scale up the Android … Read more

More 8-inch Android tablets on the way, says analyst

Android tablets have largely been a 7- or 10-inch affair to date, but 8 inches could be the new sweet spot, according to NPD DisplaySearch.

Dell and Lenovo are among the tablet makers preparing 8-inch Android tablets, according to a blog post Tuesday from NPD DisplaySearch.

Supply chain indications point to production of Android-based tablet PCs with 8-inch, 1,280x800 displays in Q3'13 [third-quarter 2013]. Brands including Acer, Asus, Dell and Lenovo are expected...Initial panel production plans suggest that the 8-inch tablets will make up between 5 to 10% of the total tablet PC market by the end … Read more

Here comes Google's next-gen Nexus 7, says IHS

Google may get its second-generation small tablet into consumers' hands before Apple does.

Market researcher IHS told CNET that Japan Display Inc. and AUO are expected to make the display for the next-gen Nexus 7, while Quanta will make the tablet itself.

"As far as I know, JDI and AUO didn't start to supply this panel to Quanta yet. However, they are saying it will start from June and July," Ricky Park, who heads research for TV, Tablet, Monitor and Notebooks display at IHS, told CNET. He is based in South Korea.

The "launch...of the … Read more

Writer's block: Cursing the cursor on Apple, Google tablets

Google makes a great tablet. But Apple does too. Neither are great writing platforms, though.

After picking up the Nexus 10 a while back, I've been finding it hard to put down. It's lighter and thinner than the 9.7-inch iPad 4 (and it certainly feels that way), it's fast (packing Samsung's latest dual-core A15 with quad-core graphics), has more system memory (2GB), has a gorgeous screen (boasting even higher resolution than Apple's Retina), and comes with the latest version of Android (4.2) -- also very likable.

Like I said, it's very hard … Read more

Fan TV could be the ultimate set-top box

CNET Update is a fan:

In this episode of Update:

- See how Fan TV wants to fix the television experience as an all-in-one streaming and cable device.

- Go list crazy on Twitter with the ability to make up to 1,000 lists.

- Decipher Motorola's clues about the mysterious Moto X smartphone, arriving this year.

- Lose all Sense and go pure Android with Google's version of the HTC One.

CNET Update delivers the tech news you need in under three minutes. Watch Bridget Carey every afternoon for a breakdown of the big stories, hot devices, … Read more

T-Mobile to offer white Nexus 4 for limited time from May 31

Well, that was quick.

Days after LG confirmed that it will release a white version of its <"http://reviews.cnet.com/lg-nexus-4/">Nexus 4 in the U.S. and U.K. after an initial launch in Hong Kong, T-Mobile reported that it will sell the model starting today online for a limited time only.

The black model will still be available in retail stores.

The new coat of paint is only applied on the battery door, while the phone's bezel remains the same stark black.

Other than that, the handset will not change. It will … Read more

HTC One Nexus User Experience confirmed

HTC just made all the speculation about an stock Android Version of its HTC One smartphone official today. The company's blog announced that the HTC One with what it calls the Nexus User Experience will arrive on June 26 for $599.

CNET did previously confirm that HTC was indeed working on a version of the HTC One that will run pure Android. Now the shroud of mystery has been lifted. In fact, the coveted device was shown off today by Google's Sundar Pichai at the D11 technology conference.

Contrasting Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S4, which will also be … Read more