A few years ago, Sony walked back its marketing claims that the Xperia line of devices were so waterproof, they could be used to take photos underwater. The company is now agreeing to settle a class action complaint that resulted from those waterproof claims by issuing refunds to anyone whose phone or tablet was damaged by water. [More]
smartphones
Don’t Use Social Media Behind The Wheel: 9 People Per Day Are Killed In Crashes Involving Distracted Drivers
By 7.24.17
Distracted driving comes in many forms, from talking on the phone, to messing with a navigation system, or posing for selfies on the latest social media app. Over the weekend, the latter distraction, combined with another dangerous driving hazard — drunk driving — to claim the life of a teen in California. [More]
Virgin Mobile Transitioning To iPhone-Only, Offers Year Of Unlimited Data For $1
By 6.21.17
It seems like the four major wireless providers are changing their plans daily to undercut each other and steal customers, but one prepaid wireless company is basically trying to out-promo everyone else by paring down to just one phone and offering a year of data for just(ish) $1. [More]
Should Pre-Teens Be Allowed To Own Smartphones?
By 6.19.17
From their earliest moments, some children are constantly connected to a screen. By the time many kids hit middle school, they already have their own smartphone. However, some parents not only want to limit their kids’ use of these devices, they want the state to ban sales of smartphones to kids under 13. [More]
Everyone Is Freaking Out About iPhone’s New Video Screen Capture Feature
By 6.8.17 — Updated: 6.12.17
We’re all used to snapping a screen shot to document whatever is on the phone screen — a text from an ex so you can send it to your friends, a photo of a receipt for business expenses, whathaveyou. But now that the newest version of iOS allows users to capture video recordings of what’s happening on the screen, people are totally freaking out. [More]
Bootlooping Issues With Nexus 6P Lead To Runaround From Manufacturer Huawei
By 5.8.17 — Updated: 5.9.17
Imagine you’ve spent hundreds of dollars on a new smartphone, and after only five months your device gets stuck in an endless cycle of rebooting. You’d hope the manufacturer would rush you a new phone and apologize for the inconvenience… only to end up caught in an endless loop of inept customer service. [More]
Is Wireless Charging Finally Coming To The iPhone?
By 5.2.17
Wireless charging — the ability to power up your mobile device without having to plug it in — has been standard on a number of smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy line, for years but has yet to be integrated into Apple’s iPhone. However, new reports indicate that Apple may finally be getting on the wireless charging wagon. [More]
Apple Reportedly Prepping Completely Overhauled iPhone For 10th Anniversary
By 4.18.17
The iPhone will celebrate its tenth birthday this June, and just like a precocious pre-teen who decides it’s time to pay more attention to their hair and clothing, Apple is reportedly planning a complete revamp of its signature device — for those willing to pay extra. [More]
Will The Upcoming iOS Update Render iPhone 5, 5C Obsolete?
By 4.12.17
If you’re still married to your iPhone 5 or 5c, you might have heard worrisome reports that Apple’s next major phone update would be the end of software support for these devices, effectively rendering them obsolete. However, that may not be the case [More]
Researchers Say Your Phone’s Fingerprint Scanner Is Easily Fooled
By 4.12.17 — Updated: 5.10.17
The more intertwined technology becomes in our daily lives, the more important it is to safeguard all that information we keep on our devices. One way smartphone manufacturers have developed to do that is fingerprint scanning, as no two prints are identical. But a new study suggests that system might not be as secure as you think. [More]
Nokia Reportedly Relaunching 3310 Phone 17 Years After Debut
By 2.14.17
What’s old is new again: Finnish manufacturer HMD Global is reportedly set to re-launch the iconic Nokia 3310 later this month, bringing back memories of heavier, non-smart phones. [More]
The iPhone May Finally Get Wireless Charging
By 2.10.17
Years after Samsung made it standard in its Galaxy line of devices, it seems Apple could finally be joining the wireless charging party: A new report is predicting that the newest iPhones won’t need cords to power up the battery. [More]
FBI Attorney: Tech Companies Are Helping Dumb Criminals By Providing Quality Encryption
By 2.9.17
Much of the debate about encrypted devices and messaging services has been centered on more sophisticated criminal or terrorist activities, where the people involved are actively searching out ways to avoid detection by law enforcement. However, the FBI’s top attorney contends that tech companies may be inadvertently giving dimwitted crooks a leg up by making quality encryption so widely available. [More]
Apple Disables Tool That Identified If Phones Were Stolen
By 1.30.17
Several years ago, Apple introduced Activation Lock, a program that allows consumers to render their devices useless once stolen, along with Activation Lock status checker, which allowed customers to determine if their phone had been secured with another user, a sign it may have been stolen. Now, it appears the latter option is no more. [More]
Apple Support Site Now Includes Option To Schedule Repairs With Authorized Providers
By 12.7.16
When no one was paying attention, Apple updated its support site to include a new option for folks looking to get their iPhone or other Apple device fixed: The ability to schedule repairs with Apple Apple Authorized Service Providers. [More]
Android Phone Maker Accused Of Knowingly Selling Phones Loaded With Spyware
By 12.6.16
Some especially sneaky spyware, which takes all of a user’s messages and browsing data and quietly ships it to servers in China, was recently discovered on some inexpensive Android devices sold in this country. Two customers who own the offending phones have filed a class action against the company that sold them here in the United States, on behalf of the buyers of at least 120,000 devices. [More]
Apple Now Selling Refurbished iPhones Online
By 11.8.16
Before today, you could purchase a refurbished iPad or Mac — but not an iPhone — online from Apple. That’s changing as the tech company is now offering customers the chance to purchase refurbished iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus online. [More]
Samsung’s Galaxy S8 Will Come With An AI Digital Assistant
By 11.7.16
While the dust from Galaxy Note 7 fallout is still far from settling, Samsung is looking to the future and its next Galaxy device, perhaps in the hopes that it’ll take everyone’s minds off this whole “exploding phone batteries” thing. To that end, the company has announced it’s launching a new artificial intelligence digital assistant service along with its upcoming Galaxy S8 smartphone. [More]
