New patents suggest Microsoft Band fitness tracker may still be on track
Microsoft has been awarded a few new patents that suggest it's still working on new iterations of the Microsoft Band. The patents describe ways to estimate the wearer's blood pressure, and the use of an electrically conductive skin sensor to track things like the wearer's stress levels.
Xiaomi buddies up with U.K. carrier Three to sell its phones in Europe
Xiaomi has partnered with U.K. carrier Three's parent, Hutchison. The partnership will result in Xiaomi phones being sold not only in the U.K., but also in Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, and Sweden. Xiaomi's phones are already being sold in Spain, so the news represents a renewed push into Europe.
Facebook Messenger now lets businesses show off products in augmented reality
Facebook has announced a few new features for Facebook Messenger, including the ability for businesses to show off their new products through augmented reality in Messenger. On top of that, Facebook is updating its digital assistant, M, to be able to translate for businesses in Marketplace.
Apple iPad (2018) vs. iPad Pro 10.5: Is the iPad Pro worth the extra cash?
The new 9.7-inch Apple iPad is an awesome device, but it doesn't reach the heights of the iPad Pro series. So which iPad is best for you -- the 9.7-inch iPad, or the ultra-powerful and slightly older 10.5-inch iPad Pro? We compare the two Apple tablets in various categories to find out.
Google will reportedly kill Play Music when it launches YouTube Remix
Google is reported to be planning to launch a new streaming service called YouTube Remix later this year -- and when it does it will reportedly put an end to Google Play Music, its current most-used music streaming services. The existence of YouTube Remix has been rumored since the end of last year.
Google Play Awards nominees are in … and amazing
Google has announced the nominees for this year's Google Play Awards, including the likes of Pokemon Go, PUBG Mobile, and more. There are a range of categories -- including a new category for AR and VR apps. The winners for the Google Play Awards will be announced on May 7, at Google I/O 2018.
Verizon, AT&T under investigation for allegedly colluding to block eSIM tech
The U.S. Justice Department is reportedly investigating possible collusion between Verizon and AT&T, who have been accused of trying to block the development and implementation of eSIM technology. The tech allows consumers to quickly and easily switch carriers without having to obtain and insert a new SIM card.
Moto E5 Plus vs. Moto E4 Plus: Battle of the ultra-budget Motos
Lenovo's Motorola has finally unveiled the new Moto E5 Plus, replacing the Moto E4 Plus as the company's budget handset to beat. But is the new phone that much better than the older Moto E4 Plus? We put the Moto E5 Plus and Moto E4 Plus head to head in a range of different categories to find out.
Google patent could replace your contacts’ profile pictures with animations
Google has been awarded a new patent that could replace the profile pictures in your Android contacts with animated images. How? The animations could be captured in video calls, then reused in other parts of Android. Of course, just because Google has been awarded the patent, that doesn't mean we'll see it soon.
Moto G6 vs. Moto G6 Play: Is the G6 worth the extra cash?
Motorola has finally taken the wraps off of the new Moto G6 and Moto G6 Play. Both offer excellent features at a very reasonable price, but which of the new phones is better for your situation? Is the slightly more expensive Moto G6 worth the extra cash? We put the two phones head-to-head to find out.
Yahoo Mail is about to make RSVPing to an event a whole lot easier
Yahoo has announced a slew of updates to Yahoo Mail that includes not only new features, but also a ton of performance improvements. New features include the likes of Photo Themes, allowing you to customize your inbox, and RSVP cards, which allow you to respond to an event quickly and easily.
Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra review
Sony may be embracing a new design, but that doesn’t mean it’s not selling a phone with an older design theme. The mid-range Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra costs $450, and a lot of compromises, which is unusual for a mid-range smartphone. Is it worth buying? Find out in our Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra review.
T-Mobile slapped with $40 million fine for playing fake ringtones on rural calls
T-Mobile has agreed to pay $40 million after the Federal Communication Commission found that despite promising to end the practice, T-Mobile was still playing fake ringtones on calls to rural areas in an effort to make customers believe that the call had been connected -- when in fact it had not.
The ultra-affordable LG Fortune 2 is now available from Cricket Wireless
Cricket Wireless has a new ultra-affordable phone on offer -- the LG Fortune 2. The device offers 16GB of storage, an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, and it comes at only $99.99. Of course, it doesn't come without competition -- like the ZTE Blade X Max, which is also available from Cricket Wireless.
Google could soon let you sync smartphones for music playback
Your Android phone could soon be usable in a network of others if Google's latest patent is anything to go by. The patent describes the use of a mesh network for using multiple smartphones to listen to music -- which would be perfect at a picnic or where there aren't any other speaker systems.
Some Android manufacturers lie to customers about installing security updates
According to a recent report, some Android manufacturers aren't just not installing the latest security updates, but they're lying to customers by saying that their phones are fully up to date. There are plenty of reasons why a manufacturer might skip an update -- but lying about it is sure to raise questions.
Be our guest: Wire now lets customers communicate securely with their clients
Secure messaging service Wire has gained a new feature -- the ability for customers with accounts to communicate with clients without accounts. Not only that, communications are still safe and secure in these so-called guest rooms, and things like file sharing and video calling are still supported.
Apple slapped with $502.6 million in damages in ongoing battle with VirnetX
Apple has been ordered to pay $502.6 million to a company called VirnetX for infringing on four patents related to online communications. VirnetX is largely considered to be a patent troll -- meaning its business relies on owning patents it won't use and going after companies that do use them.
Google has officially stopped selling the original Google Pixel
The original Google Pixel paved the way for for Google's new hardware, but the phone is no longer available from the Google Store. In other words, those looking for a stock Android device that isn't $650 or more may have to look elsewhere -- though the phone is still available from third-party retailers.
Instagram releases Focus portrait mode for photos
Instagram is rolling out a new portrait mode called "Focus," which does away with the need for two camera sensors to create a background blur, and instead uses machine learning and artificial intelligence. The feature is rolling out to the iPhone 6S and later, and select Android phones.
