Apple and Samsung just settled their 7-year legal battle
Samsung and Apple have settled a contentious seven year legal battle over patent infringement. The settlement comes less than a month after a District Court ruled Samsung owed Apple more than $500 million dollars in damages for copying patents related to the iPhone. Neither party disclosed the terms of the settlement.
Qualcomm’s newest smartwatch chips are made just for kids
Love it or hate it, technology is going to be a huge part of children's lives from now on. Qualcomm is launching itself head-first into that future with the release of a series of smartwatch chips meant exclusively for children's smartwatches, aimed at educating and protecting the next generation.
Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon chips will power next-gen budget phones
Qualcomm has taken the wraps off of the Snapdragon 632, Snapdragon 439, and Snapdragon 429, set to power a new generation of budget and mid-range smartphones. No phones with the new chips have been announced just yet, but we'll likely see some start popping up over the next few months.
Amazon is finally bringing Alexa voice control to the iPhone
Amazon Alexa may be your favorite digital assistant, but so far you haven't been able to control Alexa with your voice on the iPhone or iPad. Now, however, that's finally changing -- Amazon is bringing Alexa voice control to iOS, a feature that's been available on Android for some time now.
Google Lens is now available as a stand-alone app or inside Google Camera
If you're looking for an easier way to access Google Lens, look no further than the new shortcut app now available in the Google Play Store or the latest integration with Google Camera. The stand-alone app allows folks to take advantage of the relatively new feature.
Win a year’s worth of cupcakes from LG (oh, and some free phones)
Fancy winning a year's worth of cupcakes? LG is offering the chance for every U.S.-based Ryan to win a whole bundle of cake, alongside a bunch of LG G7 ThinQs as part of their bizarre new advertising campaign that includes Aubrey Plaza doing her very best Kool-Aid Man impression. Oh yeah!
Upcoming dual-lens smartphones could have more 3D for less cash with Lucid
LucidCam uses two lenses to capture 3D video -- and some of the same software behind that camera is coming to smartphones. Lucid is now integrating its software into mobile devices, a move that the company says will bring more 3D features to more devices, without requiring a depth sensor.
Get all your pods in one place with Google’s streamlined Podcasts app
Play Music no more! Google's long-awaited stand-alone podcast app, Google Podcasts, is here, and it's being constantly updated. With Google's sleek design, super-smart integration with Google Home, and millions of podcasts available at launch, there's nowhere better to listen to your favorite podcasts.
Don’t wait for a money transfer in Venmo — just use its Mastercard debit card
Venmo is testing a physical debit card that would make it easier for people who store money in their Venmo accounts to make purchases. On Monday, June 25, Venmo officially launched its own debit card as part of a partnership with Mastercard. Beta customers will receive a sign-up invitation.
Google is adding DRM to Play Store apps for offline verification
Google has worked hard to beef up security on the Google Play Store in the last few years, and it's showing no signs of stopping. Google is adding DRM to each app that makes it way through Google-verified app stores, so offline users can be sure they're downloading a legitimate app.
T-Mobile FamilyMode lets parents control kids’ screen time on any device
T-Mobile's new FamilyMode system provides parents with the ability to control their children's internet access on their smartphones and tablets wherever they are. With the addition of its "Home Base" device, parents can also expand the range of electronics they have control over.
Uber focuses on safety improvements as it battles to regain its London license
Uber's U.K operation has unveiled a number of measures designed to improve rider and driver safety as it seeks to regain its London operating license. On June 25, the ridesharing giant goes to court in order to appeal last September's decision, and hopefully, get its groove back in London.
HMD Global is releasing the $159 Nokia 3.1 in the U.S. in early July
It looks like we're getting a bit of Nokia love in the U.S. HMD Global has announced that the midrange Nokia 3.1 will get released in the U.S. The phone features a MediaTek MT6750 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, and more. The phone will cost $159 in the U.S., and be available from Amazon.
Researcher claims to bypass iPhone security limits, but may have spoken too soon
For a brief moment, it seemed as though a security researcher had found a way to get past the security limits on iPhones and iPads by entering an infinite number of passcodes in order to hack into a device. But after Apple disputed the findings, it seems the results may have been erroneous after all.
Apple quietly dumps Modern Buckle Watch band
If you're looking to accessorize your Apple Watch, your roster of options just shrank a bit. The iEmpire has quietly removed the Modern Buckle Apple Watch band from its lineup, marking the first time that the company has completely eliminated an entire material. It's still available in other countries.
Now you have less of an excuse to not tip your Uber driver with in-app tipping
For the first time in its history, Uber finally allowed riders to tip their drivers after a ride, straight from the Uber app last June. In the year since then, drivers have made $600 million in tips. Last month, Uber also debuted mid-trip ratings and tips, and has purportedly seen a 30 percent rise in tipping.
BlackBerry inks deal with Bullitt to provide security tech to phones
BlackBerry has announced a partnership with Bullitt Group to provide security features to Bullitt's ultra-rugged Cat and Land Rover-branded phones. This is one of only a few deals BlackBerry has made for BlackBerry Secure technology, but it's likely we'll see more as time goes on.
Tinder’s parent company Match Group swipes right on Hinge
Already under the Match Group are Tinder, OkCupid, and of course, Match, and now that the company has acquired a 51 percent stake in Hinge, it's added to its portfolio once again. Under the terms of the deal, Match Group retains the right to acquire the rest of Hinge's shares within a 12-month window.
Get a warrant before tracking cell phone users, Supreme Court rules in privacy win
In the 5-4 decision, the highest court in the United States determined that police departments across the nation must first attain a search warrant before tracking mobile device users. This decision could have enormous implications, given that around 95 percent of Americans have a cell phone.
Take a look at what could be the future of Samsung’s Galaxy phones
A Samsung patent has been published showing a mystery device with a massive, almost bezel-less front screen, and potentially a second screen on the back of the phone. There's no information on what this screen may do, but that doesn't stop us speculating. We could be looking at the future of Samsung's Galaxy phones.
A country is shutting off its entire internet to stop exam cheats
Determined to prevent students cheating in exams, the Algerian government has ordered the internet to be shut off for several hours around the time the tests are taken. Officials have also installed metal detectors at exam centers to prevent the use of mobile phones and other connected devices.
YouTube boosts creators with channel subs, merchandise stores, and Premieres
YouTube is expanding existing features and introducing a new one in a bid to help creators earn more money through their work. Channel subscriptions for $5 a month, merchandise stores with customized goods, and "Premieres" that enable creators to market their latest videos are all part of the effort.
Google Measure app now works on any ARCore-capable phone
Google is updating Google Measure, its augmented reality app that allows users to measure real-world objects. The app is now compatible with any ARCore phone, including the likes of the Google Pixel 2, Samsung Galaxy S9, and more. Previously, it was only available on Project Tango devices.
Why can’t your Instagram upload? OpenSignal explains the upload speed gap
To help you better understand why some carriers can help you get your pics onto Instagram and Snapchat faster than others, OpenSignal has published a new explainer to help clarify why there's such a huge discrepancy between the fastest and slowest 4G upload speeds. Hint: Sprint is in last place.
Bing Visual Search is a Google Lens competitor — with an extra feature
Bing has launched a new camera-powered search for recognizing objects, animals, plants, landmarks, and apparel. The Google Lens competitor may be late to the party, but it also has a feature that Lens doesn't have and uses both an existing photo and an in-app camera, even on iOS.
Patent hints that the iPhone could one day have built-in handwriting recognition
Apple has filed a patent for what could one day be built-in handwriting recognition in the iPhone. This could allow for a feature built into the iOS keyboard that could detect handwriting in any app. The tech would also be aimed at being more accurate than alternatives.
Bitter lawmakers tell Google to justify Huawei link after A.I. military deal ends
The U.S. Congress has attacked Google over its partnership with Huawei, after a deal to develop A.I. tech between Google and the U.S. Department of Defense ended. Members of Congress asked Google to justify working with Huawei over the U.S. military. Google employees previously called for the project to end.
Thieves nab $100K of Apple gear in ‘Mission: Impossible-style’ raid
Thieves have again targeted Apple gear, this time stealing $100,000 worth of iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers from a Best Buy store in Dunwoody, Georgia. But the method of entry that the gang used has prompted local cops to compare the raid to an iconic scene from "Mission: Impossible."
Facebook Messenger is getting those annoying autoplay video ads
It looks like Facebook's annoying autoplay video ads are coming to Messenger. According to a new report, while Facebook considers user experience the most important thing, video ads will still be rolling out to Messenger over the next few weeks. To date, Messenger only had static ads.
AT&T WatchTV is free streaming TV for wireless customers, fueled by Time Warner purchase
On the heels of purchasing Time Warner for $85.4 billion, AT&T announced the launch of WatchTV. Described as a "very, very skinny bundle" of TV programming with no sports, the service will be free for AT&T unlimited data customers or $15 for everyone else, regardless of wireless carrier.
Yahoo Mail revamps its mobile web experience, releases Android Go app
In an effort to provide an enjoyable and efficient experience regardless of storage capacity, network speeds, or location, Yahoo has launched two new initiatives. Users will now have access to a newly revamped Yahoo Mail mobile web experience, along with an optimized app for Android Go phones.
Australia punishes Apple for refusing to replace iPhones stricken by ‘Error 53’
A long-running legal dispute with Australia has led to Apple being fined over $6 million. Australia's federal court has ruled that Apple acted unlawfully when it refused to repair or replace the iPhones of customers affected by Error 53 - an error that came about as a result of third-party repairs.
Uber is testing a low-fare option that’s great if you’re not in a rush
Uber is testing a new feature that offers lower fares for riders. Opting for the cheaper ride means waiting a bit longer for your car to arrive. So you can make an informed decision, the app tells you both fare options — one for the immediate pick-up and one for the delayed pick-up.
Google Maps on Android no longer lets you book Uber rides
Early last year, Google announced that Google Maps would allow customers to book rides straight from the Maps app. Now, however, it seems as though that feature has been removed. It's currently unclear exactly why Google removed the feature from Google Maps, but it could have been Uber's decision rather than Google's.