Motorola might be jumping on the foldable smartphone bandwagon
Motorola appears to be the latest electronics manufacturer to join the foldable smartphone race. The company was recently awarded a patent for a flexible OLED smartphone display. It joins Apple, Samsung, and Huawei in trying to find a technology that will bring foldable smartphone screens into the mainstream.
Mayday! Amazon pulls the plug on Kindle Fire’s popular support feature
It's been five years since we were first introduced to Mayday by none other than the head of Amazon himself, Jeff Bezos. The on-screen customer support feature was hugely popular for Kindle Fire tablet users, but now Amazon announced that the service will be discontinued this month.
See why no one would have bought Samsung’s Project Valley foldable phone
Did you ever wonder what Samsung's Project Valley folding phone looked like? A set of leaked pictures have revealed exactly that, giving us a glimpse at the prototype device from a few years ago. While this is a canceled prototype, Samsung is still apparently working on a folding, or bendable phone.
Foxconn is coming to America — more specifically, to its new Milwaukee HQ
Foxconn is reportedly purchasing a seven-story building from Northwestern Mutual, and will ultimately employ 500 people to work in the brand new facility. That's fewer than the 13,000 jobs it'll be creating at its display facility just 30 miles south, but does indicate that Foxconn is serious about its new home.
Increased LCD production hints at more affordable iPhones for 2018
Apple is reportedly expecting increased demand for affordable alternatives to the iPhone X and has increased production of the LCD panels necessary for those phones.
The best in-flight internet access prices
Plan ahead for in-flight Wi-Fi internet access to save money on 1-hour or day passes and monthly subscriptions. If you wait till you board your flight to buy a Wi-Fi pass you'll pay much more than the same purchase while you were waiting at the gate. Pre-purchased access is good for one device and one airline.
Crown is a new dating app that looks a lot like your March Madness bracket
Meet Crown, the latest dating app from Match Group, otherwise known as the parent company of Match, Tinder, and OK Cupid. Rather than giving you a never ending roster of potential mates to pick from, Crown gives you a curated list that you then eliminate -- tournament-style -- on a daily basis.
Venmo will no longer let you pay or charge your friends on its website
If you're looking to Venmo your friend for that pizza you ate most of, or need to send your monthly rent payment via the PayPal-owned peer-to-peer payments service, you'll now have to do it via mobile. Venmo is phasing out support for its web service, which likely won't affect all that many users.
Indulge your nostalgia with a brand-new iPhone 3GS
Did you miss out on owning one of the most popular smartphones from the 2000s? Well, thanks to a South Korean mobile carrier, you can make it up to yourself by buying the iPhone 3GS for 44,000 Won, or 40 U.S. dollars.
Espionage! Fitbit charged with stealing Jawbone’s secrets
On Thursday, U.S. federal prosecutors officially charged six Fitbit employees, both current and former, in an indictment for possession of stolen trade secrets from Jawbone. According to the indictment, these six employees once worked for Jawbone and received these secrets when they left the company.
Why Google and T-Mobile are bringing back phone booths
Google and T-Mobile are showcasing the Google Assistant in a series of new demos, set to show up at two T-Mobile stores over the next three months. The demos show off a few different aspects of what the Google Assistant can do, as well as some of the hardware Assistant is featured on.
After being down for a few hours, Apple’s Maps app is working again
If you're looking for the fastest route to work, you may want to try out Google Maps this morning. This morning iPhone users worldwide reported problems with the default Maps app on iOS and MacOS. After nearly four hours of downtime Apple restored Maps service to iOS and MacOS users.
Apple could implement one of the Google Pixel 2’s coolest features
According to a newly published patent, Apple could be working on implementing one of the most interesting features from the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. The patent described a kind of "squeeze" feature that could activate certain functions on the phone. A slew of other Apple patents were also published.
Amid U.S. hurdles, Huawei may be banned from Australia’s 5G network
Huawei is facing plenty of hurdles in the U.S., buts its struggles may be moving to other countries too. A recent report notes that the company may be banned from taking part in the buildout of Australia's 5G network. The company already lost a contract for cables between Sydney and the Solomon Islands.
It’s now easier to tell Google exactly what data it can use to advertise to you
Google has launched a revamped Ad Settings tool, allowing users to quickly and easily control the topics used to advertise to them, as well as tell Google what kinds of data they want Google to use when it's advertising. It does not seem as though Google is allowing users to control what data it collects.
Samsung has made a very big promise for 2020, and it’s not for the Galaxy S12
Samsung has committed to using 100 percent renewable energy to power key facilities in the United States, Europe, and China by 2020. Additionally, it will assist the South Korean government in reaching local energy goals. Samsung has been under pressure for not doing enough to stop using fossil fuels.
Apple locks down iPhone security flaw, frustrates law enforcement
Apple has announced that it will fix another iPhone security flaw in a future iOS update. How? By preventing data from being able to be transferred to and from the iPhone after an hour of the phone being locked. In other words, to transfer data, users will soon need to authenticate themselves first.
New patent reveals Apple is continuing to work on waterproof iPhones
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office made a new patent available to the public that shows Apple is continuing to make sure its future iPhones are waterproof. Using new sealing technology, the company could be working on an accessory that will provide an IP68 rating on its electronic devices.
Apple quietly bans developers from selling your contacts’ data
Apple has quietly updated its developer guidelines to ban developers from selling data collected from an iPhone users contacts app -- a practice similar to what landed Facebook in hot water with Cambridge Analytica. Of course, there isn't much Apple can do about the data already sold.
SleepScore app aims to take your slumber to new depths
Having trouble achieving a decent night's sleep? SleepScore is a new free app that assesses your sleep quality via sound waves from your smartphone. Based on a score linked to your sleeping patterns, it then offers a range of "sleep goals" together with advice on how you can achieve them.
Uber eyes millions of new riders with the launch of Uber Lite
Following in the footsteps of many other popular online services, Uber has just launched a lightweight version of its app. Targeted at emerging markets such as India, Uber Lite uses just 5MB of storage to offer a service that still manages to retain some of the core features of its regular app.
Google Translate uses A.I. to improve accuracy for offline use
If you sometimes find Google Translate's offline efforts to be a little confusing or inaccurate, then an update coming to the app this week looks set to bring some solid improvements. The team has managed to work in an A.I. system currently used in the online version, without taking too much extra space on your device.
Updates to Google Assistant could make it the most natural digital helper yet
Google is launching a number of awesome new updates to Google Assistant that could help make it the most natural digital helper so far. The updates include visual changes to Assistant on your phone, as well as the ability to actually call businesses to book appointments.
Nomad’s new cable kicks up battery capacity for the same price
Nomad has announced a new version of its Battery Cable for iOS devices. But what's different? Well, the battery capacity has been raised to 2,800mAh, and the plastic battery housing has been swapped out for a stronger aluminum one. The best part, however, is that the device is the same price.
Common Motorola Moto G6, G6 Plus, and G6 Play problems and how to fix them
The Motorola Moto G6 may be a monster of a budget device, but it's not perfect, and like any device, you're going to find some flaws as you go. We've rounded up some of the most common issues and problems you're likely to find, as well as the fixes that bring your phone back to full capabilities.
The space-age Vivo Nex is 2018’s most exciting smartphone yet
Born from the innovative Vivo Apex concept phone, the Vivo Nex includes three cutting-edge technologies inside a body that's 91 percent screen. If you hate the notch, love the idea of in-display fingerprint sensors, and enjoy quirky features that make you smile, you'll like the Nex.
Apple just banned apps from cryptocurrency mining on iOS devices
Apple has banned apps that mine cryptocurrency on iOS devices. The company updated its guidelines recently, highlighting that while apps related to cryptocurrency are still allowed, apps that mine it are not. Of course, iOS devices generally aren't powerful enough to mine much cryptocurrency anyway.
Uber could soon know if you’re drunk before the car arrives to pick you up
Uber has filed a patent outlining an app-based artificial intelligence capable of detecting "uncharacteristic" behavior, such as drunkenness, among riders. That way, it could send a more experienced driver to collect the potentially boisterous rider, or ensure they don't end up in a pooled ride.
Google’s Change the Game winners designed games we can’t wait to play
Google has announced the winners of its Change the Game initiative, teenage girls who have designed and/or developed mobile games. Change the Game is aimed at empowering young girls to develop mobile games, something the mobile game industry desperately needs considering the underrepresentation of women.
NFC tech in official World Cup match ball draws fans even more into the games
To get soccer enthusiasts more involved in the upcoming World Cup tournament, Adidas teamed up with the software company BlueBite to outfit the official match ball with NFC compatibility, giving fans access to exclusive content and unique daily challenges by simply scanning the chip with a smartphone.
Here is everything we know about the Asus ZenFone 5
Asus has unveiled its latest and greatest smartphones, the Zenfone 5 series -- which includes the Zenfone 5, Zenfone 5Z, and Zenfone 5 Lite.
ZTE could see ban lifted soon, but it’s still on thin ice
Chinese phone and gadget manufacturer ZTE is in hot water following a decision by the U.S. government that bans the company from buying American technology. The decision could mean that ZTE is no longer able to use the Android operating system. However, the ban may soon be lifted, thanks to a deal ZTE signed.
‘The Elder Scrolls: Blades,’ a free-to-play mobile RPG, arrives this fall
Capitalizing on the success of Fallout Shelter, Bethesda is bringing The Elder Scrolls franchise to mobile devices. Unlike Fallout Shelter, Blades looks like the full Elder Scrolls experience, complete with dungeons, towns, and player-versus-player combat. The free-to-play game launches this fall.
FCC adopts news rules to stop phone companies from ‘slamming’ and ‘cramming’
The FCC has issued new rules meant to provide safeguards for consumers against deceptive practices by mobile carriers. More specifically, the organization is taking aim at what is known as "slamming" and "cramming."